Sierra Leone and Senegal played to a 1-1 draw in a thrilling Group B match at the WAFU A U17 Championship in Mali, showcasing their determination to qualify for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Emerging as Sierra Leone’s hero, Musa A. Samura opened the scoring with a poised finish that sent the Sierra Leonean spectators into a state of euphoria.
Following a well-worked move that sliced open the Senegalese defence, his goal came halfway through the first half.
But as the first half wore on, Senegal, renowned for their youth-level tenacity, entered the game. Their hard work was rewarded in the second half when Souleymane C. Faye equalised the game.
The gifted forward seized a defensive error and slipped the ball past the Sierra Leonean goalie to bring the score level and ignite optimism for the West African behemoths.
The game went on at a fast clip with both teams creating opportunities, yet neither side could locate the winning goal. While Sierra Leone defended fiercely to hang onto the point, Senegal displayed more attacking intent in the last stages.
This result gives both teams all to play for in their upcoming group games. Every point counts as the best teams advance to the next round of qualifiers.
The WAFU A U17 competition in Mali keeps producing fierce and thrilling games. In the day’s other match, Guinea narrowly edged Mauritania 1-0 to go top of Group B after their opening matches.
