By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Excitement is building across Sierra Leone as Head Coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara officially named his 26-man squad to represent the country at the upcoming CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to take place in Egypt from April 27 to May 18, 2025.
The national U-20 team, known as the Shooting Stars, will depart for Egypt on Wednesday, April 23rd, marking a significant milestone as they prepare to make their first-ever appearance at the continental youth championship.
The tournament, now in its 17th edition, is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and sponsored by TotalEnergies.
“This is a historic moment for our country,” Coach Kamara said during the squad announcement. “We have prepared diligently, and I believe we have a group of talented young players ready to make Sierra Leone proud on the continental stage.”
The competition will be held across three Egyptian cities—Cairo, Ismailia, and Suez—and will feature 13 nations vying for continental glory and a coveted place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled for September 27 to October 19, 2025.
Sierra Leone has been drawn into a challenging Group A alongside hosts Egypt, Zambia, South Africa, and Tanzania. The Shooting Stars will begin their campaign with a landmark Group A opener against Zambia on Sunday, April 27th—a date that coincides with Sierra Leone’s 64th Independence Day. The match is set for 3:00 PM local time at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.
The team will then take on tournament hosts Egypt on Wednesday, April 30th at 6:00 PM, before meeting Tanzania, and concluding the group stage with a crucial clash against South Africa on Tuesday, May 6th at 3:00 PM.
CAF has structured the tournament into three groups: Group A features five teams, while Groups B and C consist of four teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals, paving the way to the grand final on May 18th in Cairo.
In addition to continental prestige, the tournament serves as the qualifying event for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The four semi-finalists from the 2025 U-20 AFCON will secure automatic qualification to the global showpiece in Chile later this year.
Sierra Leone’s participation is seen as a significant achievement in the country’s football development, particularly in youth football, and signals a new era of potential for the national team setup.
“This is more than just about winning matches,” said Coach Kamara. “It’s about giving our young talents the exposure and experience they need to grow into the next generation of national stars.”
The delegation is expected to arrive in Egypt early enough to acclimatize and finalize preparations ahead of their opening match. The players, technical staff, and officials have all expressed optimism and patriotic zeal as they aim to make history on African soil.
As Sierra Leone steps onto the continental stage for the first time in U-20 AFCON history, fans across the nation are rallying behind the Shooting Stars in hopes of a successful and inspiring tournament run.
