Ahead of Sierra Leone’s opening match against Zambia at the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations, head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara addressed the media at the Suez Canal Stadium.

Kamara acknowledged the tough competition in Group A but expressed pride in his team’s spirit and preparation. “𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐔𝟐𝟎 𝐀𝐅𝐂𝐎𝐍 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲,”

he said. The squad includes 26 players—17 homegrown and 9 based abroad—whom Kamara described as the best talents Sierra Leone has to offer.

With eyes firmly set on World Cup qualification, Kamara emphasized that reaching the semifinals is the team’s main goal. “𝐖𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡,” he added.

Speaking about opponents Zambia, Kamara praised their strength but insisted Sierra Leone is ready for the challenge. “𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲, 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞.”

Team captain Momoh I. Kamara reinforced the team’s focus and fitness, promising a committed performance.

Coach Kamara also thanked the Egyptian Football Association for the excellent facilities and warm hospitality at the Suez Canal Stadium.

SLFA Media Department