Category: Football Africa

π‚π¨πšπœπ‘ 𝐌𝐨𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 π‹πšπ¦π’π§ 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 π’π­πšπ²π¬ 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐒𝐭𝐒𝐯𝐞 π€πŸπ­πžπ« 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐒𝐧𝐠 πƒπ«πšπ°
by FSL News

π‚π¨πšπœπ‘ 𝐌𝐨𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 π‹πšπ¦π’π§ 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 π’π­πšπ²π¬ 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐒𝐭𝐒𝐯𝐞 π€πŸπ­πžπ« 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐒𝐧𝐠 πƒπ«πšπ°

Sierra Leone U20 head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara spoke after Sunday’s goalless draw against Zambia in their opening match of the CAF TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Reflecting on the result, Kamara admitted that no team wants to start a tournament without a win. He said: β€œπ‘»π’‰π’† π’π’–π’•π’„π’π’Žπ’† 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒖𝒔 π’„π’π’Žπ’‘π’π’†π’•π’†π’π’š, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 π’˜π’† π’˜π’Šπ’π’ π’”π’•π’–π’…π’š 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’ˆπ’‚π’Žπ’† 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’‘π’Šπ’„π’Œ 𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 π’„π’†π’“π’•π’‚π’Šπ’ π’„π’“π’Šπ’•π’Šπ’„π’‚π’ π’Žπ’π’Žπ’†π’π’•π’”.”

The head coach emphasized the need to understand why, despite dominating possession, his side struggled to score. Looking ahead, Kamara acknowledged the challenge of facing hosts Egypt but remained determined. β€œπ‘»π’ 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒐𝒏𝒆 π’Žπ’–π’”π’• 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’‡π’Šπ’π’†π’”π’• o𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’‡π’Šπ’†π’π’…. 𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’„π’‰π’‚π’π’π’†π’π’ˆπ’†. 𝑢𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 π’ˆπ’‚π’Žπ’†π’” π’ˆπ’Šπ’—π’† 𝒖𝒔 π’‘π’π’†π’π’•π’š π’Žπ’π’“π’† 𝒕𝒐 π’‘π’π’‚π’š 𝒇𝒐𝒓,” he added.

Meanwhile, IF Bromby goalkeeper Mamadou Wurie Jalloh, who made his CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations debut, expressed satisfaction with his performance. Wurie backed his team to go all out for wins in the upcoming matches, confident they can reach the next round of the tournament.

Sierra Leone’s next match is against the host nation Egypt, who defeated South Africa at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday, topping the table.

Winning U20 Cup of Nations start for host nation Egypt
by Football Sierra Leone

Winning U20 Cup of Nations start for host nation Egypt

Egypt began the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025, with a 1-0 win over South Africa at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening.

This match followed an exciting opening ceremony and was the second game of Group A, after Zambia and Sierra Leone played to a goalless draw earlier in the day.

Mohamed Abdallah scored the winning goal for Egypt in the 62nd minute. He received a great pass from Mohamed Raafat during a quick counterattack and calmly finished to put the ball past the South African goalkeeper, exciting the home fans.

Egypt controlled most of the early game, but South Africa started to find their rhythm and almost scored when Mfundo Vilakazi hit the post from long range within the first 10 minutes.

The South African team created several chances but faced strong defense from Egypt’s players and goalkeeper. Gopolang Taunyana’s late header nearly equalized the score, but the goalkeeper made the save, and Egypt stood firm under pressure.

Despite dealing with multiple injuries and making three substitutions in the first half, Egypt showed resilience. They stuck to their game plan and earned the three points.

With this win, Egypt sits at the top of Group A after the first round of matches. Their next game is against Sierra Leone on Wednesday, while South Africa will play Tanzania.

Egypt is aiming for their fifth U-20 continental title, having won it in 1981, 1991, 2003, and 2013. In this tournament, the top four teams will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year, making this strong start important for Egypt as they begin their campaign in front of enthusiastic home supporters.

Zambia and Sierra Leone share opening U20 AFCON spoils
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Zambia and Sierra Leone share opening U20 AFCON spoils

Sierra Leone made their U20 AFCON debut was impressive in the 0-0 draw of the opening match in Group A at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Egypt in 2025.

The match, which took place at the Suez Canal Stadium on Sunday, was closely contested, with both teams struggling to capitalize on their chances. The game was energetic but lacked the clinical finishing necessary to secure a win.

Zambia, the winners of the 2017 edition, controlled possession for large portions of the match but faced frustration from a determined Sierra Leone defense. Joseph Sabobo stood out for the Young Chipolopolo, making several attempts that required saves from Sierra Leone goalkeeper Samba Bah, but he was unable to break through.

Sierra Leone, in their first appearance at this level, showcased their composure and created opportunities of their own. Samba Bah and Nathaniel Jalloh consistently threatened Zambia’s defense, while Alpha Turay nearly scored with a header early in the first half.

As the second half progressed, both teams became increasingly eager to find a winning goal. Zambia thought they had clinched a victory late in the game, with Emmanuel Mutale and David Simukonda coming close, but neither could find the net.

Sierra Leone came close to scoring as Samba Bah’s header was saved in the final moments of the match, resulting in a draw.

This leaves Group A competitive ahead of the later match between hosts Egypt and South Africa. While Zambia created several chances, they will regret their finishing, while Sierra Leone can be proud of their strong debut performance and look to build on it.

Both teams will now focus on their next matches to secure advancement to the quarter-finals, where the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams will progress.

Suez Canal Stadium to host Sierra Leone, Zambia U20 AFCON Opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Suez Canal Stadium to host Sierra Leone, Zambia U20 AFCON Opener

The 2025 U20 African Cup of Nations will kick off in Ismailia, Egypt, on Sunday, April 27, with debutant Sierra Leone set to face Zambia at 15:00 GMT (18:00 local time in Egypt).

Head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara has stated that his team is fully focused on the upcoming challenge. “Zambian youth teams have always been a difficult opponent, but we are here to make history and represent ourselves well,” Kamara said during the pre-match press conference.

With the recent arrival of three foreign-based playersβ€”Osman Kamara from Arsenal, Abraham Kanu from Reading, and forward Kevin Bobson Kargbo from RWDMβ€”Coach Kamara now has a fully fit squad to choose from for the opening match.

The 17th edition of Africa’s premier youth competition is set to run from April 27 to May 18, 2025, featuring 13 countries competing across three cities: Cairo, Ismailia, and Suez. Matches will be held at three stadiums located in these cities.

Opposition: Zambia

The Zambia U20 Men’s National Team has received a boost ahead of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF U20 AFCON with the arrival of three foreign-based players: Frank Chileshe and Bonephanseo Phiri from Georgia, and Aaron Mbemba from Spain. This brings the total number of players in camp to 23, with only Brazil-based striker Andrew Mulenga yet to arrive.

Meanwhile, host nation Egypt will face South Africa at the Cairo International Stadium. The top four semifinalists from this tournament will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, which will be held in Chile from September 27 to October 19.

Stadium Background

The Suez Canal Authority Stadium, which is also used by Olympic El Qanah, will host the games. The stadium underwent a complete renovation between 2019 and 2022, during which it was demolished and rebuilt from scratch. Originally accommodating 10,000 spectators, it now has a capacity of 22,000 and is an all-seater venue designed by Ahmed Ragab, the Head Engineer of the Suez Canal Authority.

Groups for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025

Group A: Egypt, Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, TanzaniaΒ Β 

Group B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, MoroccoΒ Β 

Group C: Senegal, Central African Republic, DR Congo, GhanaΒ Β 

Egypt wrap-up preparations for U20 AFCON opener against South Africa
by FSL News

Egypt wrap-up preparations for U20 AFCON opener against South Africa

AFCON U20 hosts Egypt finished their preparations for their match against South Africa. The game will take place at 9 PM tomorrow, Sunday, at Cairo Stadium.

This match is the opening of the African Cup of Nations, which Egypt will host from April 27 to May 18. The tournament also serves as a World Cup qualifying event.

The final training session happened at Medina Stadium in Khalifa. During this time, the coach, Captain Osama Nabih, focused on specific strategies for the upcoming match. He urged his players to pay attention to the instructions and avoid distractions.

The players showed seriousness and dedication as they worked to earn a spot in the match lineup. Wadi Al-Harer’s special training was led by goalkeeping coach Captain Ayman Tahir. Captain Nabih also discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the South African team during a lecture before the last training session.

Performance analyst Ahmed Issam prepared a video report that highlighted South Africa’s strong organization and quick transitions from defense to attack.

Egypt’s national team is in the first group along with South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Tanzania. The top two teams from each of the three groups will move on to the quarter-finals. The best third-place team will also qualify, giving teams finishing in the top four the chance to reach the World Cup.

Sierra Leone's Ismailia camp bubbles ahead of U20 AFCON opener
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s Ismailia camp bubbles ahead of U20 AFCON opener

The camp of Sierra Leone’s Shooting Stars in Ismailia, Egypt, has welcomed the last three foreign-based players: Arsenal’s Osman Kamara, Reading defender Abraham Kanu, and RWDM forward Kevin Bobson Kargbo.

They arrived with National Team Ambassador Christian Duada in preparation for their opening match against Zambia on Sunday, April 27th.

Sierra Leone is filled with fresh optimism and vigor as it aims to qualify for the U20 World Cup in Chile in 2025. The four semi-finalists will secure a spot in the tournament.

This moment is significant for the team, as it marked the first time in history they qualified for this tournament. Head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara’s squad has demonstrated great resilience throughout their preparations.

Remarkably, the last time a youth team from Sierra Leone flourished on the international stage was during the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship. Sierra Leone’s youth last participated in this tournament, which took place in Finland from August 13 to 30, 2003, with games held in Turku, Lahti, Tampere, and Helsinki.

South Africa U20 Amajita arrive in egypt ahead of U20 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa’s Amajita arrive in Egypt ahead of U20 AFCON

The South African U-20 team has arrived in Cairo to participate in the African Cup, set to begin on Sunday in Cairo and Ismailia.

The delegation arrived at Cairo Airport on Thursday morning to compete in the Africa Cup of Under-20, which runs from Sunday until May 18.

Thirteen teams will compete for the title, with the top four qualifying for the World Cup scheduled to take place in Chile between September and October 2025.

Under the guidance of Coach Raymond Madaka, the team is in the first group, and their campaign begins with an opening match against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening. They will also face Tanzania on April 30 at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia and Sierra Leone on May 6 at the new Suez Stadium. The group stage will conclude for Amajita with a match against Zambia on May 9 at the 30th of June Stadium in Air Defense.

The South African national team, known as “Amajita,” qualifies for the U-20 African Cup for the ninth time in its history. They secured their place by finishing the COSAFA regional qualifiers with three victories: defeating Malawi 5-0, Lesotho 6-0, and the Comoros Islands 2-0 in the group stage. They then advanced to the semi-finals, where they triumphed over Angola 1-0, and secured their spot in the final by outclassing Zambia 2-0.

Senegal set to defend U20 Cup of Nations title in Egypt
by Football Sierra Leone

Senegal set to defend U20 Cup of Nations title in Egypt

Senegal arrived at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025, as the defending champions and a team to beat. With a strong reputation for producing elite youth talent, the Lionceaux of Teranga aims to retain their title.

Under coach Serigne Saliou Dia, they blend tactical discipline with attacking flair in pursuit of back-to-back triumphs.

As reigning African U-20 champions, Senegal aims to defend their title at the tournament following their historic 2023 victory in Egypt. Their recent success is built on disciplined structures and a rich talent pipeline.

Senegal secured their place in the tournament by winning the WAFU Zone A Championship for the second consecutive time, defeating Sierra Leone 2-0 in the final.

Senegal, as the reigning champions after winning the 2023 title, had a flawless campaign, winning every match, including a 2-0 final against Gambia. They had previously reached the finals in 2015, 2017, and 2019, but fell short each time.

  • **GROUP ANALYSIS**Β Β 

Senegal is in Group C alongside DR Congo, Ghana, and the Central African Republic. Each of these teams poses a unique challenge, with DR Congo being particularly ambitious and Ghana showing consistent growth in youth football. The Central African Republic is a dark horse, known for their physical and direct style.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Beat Egypt Team in Cairo pre-U20 Afcon friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Beat Egypt in Cairo Pre-U20 Afcon friendly

On Tuesday, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles defeated Egypt’s Young Pharaohs 2-1 in a pre-Cup of Nations friendly match held at the Cairo International Stadium. Goals from Kparobo Arierhi and Precious Benjamin ensured a strong victory for Nigeria’s U20 team in Cairo. (Photo Credit EFA)

Kparobo Arierhi scored Nigeria’s first goal in the 10th minute, after being assisted by Bidemi Amole. Egypt responded with a goal from Ahmed Kaabaka in the 65th minute. However, Nigeria took the lead again with a penalty goal from Precious Benjamin in the 83rd minute, after Divine Oliseh was fouled in the box.

This victory gives the Flying Eagles a confidence boost as they prepare to face Tunisia in their first match on Thursday. They will also compete against Morocco and Kenya in Group B.

Egypt, the host team in Group A, will play against South Africa on Sunday, followed by matches against Sierra Leone on April 30, Zambia on May 3, and Tanzania on May 9.

Tanzania Players gearing up for U20 AFCON in Egypt
by Football Sierra Leone

Tanzania head coach Suleiman Hemed aware of U20 AFCON challenges

Tanzania U20 head coach Suleiman Hemed Morocco is aware of the tough challenge ahead after his team was drawn into a competitive Group A at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt 2025. The draw placed Tanzania alongside hosts Egypt, Zambia, South Africa, and Sierra Leone.

In an interview, Coach Morocco acknowledged the strength of the group, stating, β€œIt’s not an easy group for us… Everyone wants to win the cup.”

The tournament will take place from April 27 to May 18, 2025, featuring 13 teams, with the top two from each group and two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarter-finals.

Reaching the knockout stage would mark a significant achievement for Tanzania, and Coach Morocco emphasized the need for effective preparation to compete with elite teams. β€œWe take our group seriously to ensure we can compete with anyone we meet,” he said. Group A will present challenges, particularly from host nation Egypt and a talented Zambian squad, reflecting the growing ambitions of Tanzanian youth football.”

Tanzania is eager to assert its presence and compete for one of the four spots at the U-20 World Cup, given the high stakes and limited margin for error.