By: alusinerehme.wilson@awokonewspapersl.com
Ismailia, Egypt – Sierra Leone’s U-20 national team, the Shooting Stars, are on the brink of making African football history as they gear up for a crucial clash against South Africa today at 6:00 PM local time at the Suez Canal Stadium.
The debutants in the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations have already taken the tournament by storm, topping Group A with seven points and a +5 goal difference. Under the direction of head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara, the young Sierra Leonean squad is aiming for a third consecutive win — a feat no tournament newcomer has achieved in 18 years.
Victory over South Africa tonight would not only cement Sierra Leone’s status as group leaders but also place them in the AFCON U-20 record books as the first debutants since Congo in 2007 to win all three group-stage matches.
The Shooting Stars have already defied expectations with back-to-back wins: a stunning 4-1 demolition of hosts Egypt and a gritty 1-0 victory over Tanzania. Their performance has drawn comparisons to Ghana’s 1991 campaign, where the Black Satellites also won two straight games as newcomers.
Sierra Leone has already secured a place in the quarter-finals — the first debutant nation to do so since Uganda in 2021 — but tonight’s game offers more than just three points. It’s a chance to make history, send a message to the continent, and keep their unbeaten run alive.
South Africa, meanwhile, face a more uncertain path. With only one point earned from their opening draw against Zambia, they must overcome the in-form Shooting Stars to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
This will be Sierra Leone’s second encounter with a Southern African opponent in the group stage, and they go into it with confidence, momentum, and the backing of a nation watching with pride and anticipation.
Should they win tonight, the Shooting Stars will not only rewrite their own story — they’ll redefine what’s possible for debutants on Africa’s biggest youth football stage. ARW/6/5/2025
