Defender Alpha Turay, who played a key role in both of Leone Stars’ World Cup qualifying matches against Guinea-Bissau and Egypt, is one of nine foreign players selected for Sierra Leone’s U20 squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara has announced a squad of 26 players, including nine foreign-based as Sierra Leone will begin their AFCON U20 campaign against Zambia on April 27, followed by a match against the hosts, Egypt, on April 30.
The team departs for Egypt on Wednesday, April 23 ahead of their first group match on Sunday April 27. Notable players included in the squad are Mamadou Wurie Jalloh, the goalkeeper from Brøndby IF’s U19 team; Alpha Kabia, a rising midfield talent who recently joined Major League Soccer with Minnesota United FC; and the dynamic midfield duo and strong defenders, Abdul Bangura and Mohamed Bai Kamara, who hail from the Latvian club K Metta.
The biennial African international youth football tournament will take place in Egypt from April 27 to May 18, 2025, with Senegal as the defending champions.
Sierra Leone road to Egypt U20 AFCON
Sierra Leone secured their place at the TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON 2025 as the runners-up in the WAFU Zone A Championship.
Under the leadership of captain and star striker Momoh Kamara, the Shooting Stars delivered an impressive performance, defeating Guinea-Bissau, hosts Liberia, and The Gambia on their way to the final.
Although they ultimately lost to Senegal, their overall performance throughout the tournament showcased resilience, attacking flair, and tactical maturity, earning them a well-deserved spot in their first-ever U-20 AFCON.
