Sierra Leone’s U-17 girls delivered a dramatic late comeback to defeat hosts Cote D’Ivoire 2-1 in Yamoussoukro on Friday, April 17, 2026, sealing progression to the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers.
Played at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, the decisive second leg followed a goalless draw between the two sides at the same venue five days earlier. Despite the hosts taking the lead in a tightly contested encounter, Sierra Leone responded with resilience.
Musu Sengeh levelled in the 82nd minute after reacting quickest to a rebound, before Mariena Magdaline Tua struck deep into stoppage time to complete a remarkable turnaround.
The latest victory sends Sierra Leone into the next round under head coach Fatmata “Taribo” Turay, where they will face Benin, who advanced 5-3 on aggregate against Burkina Faso.
The qualifiers form part of the pathway to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, with five African teams set to secure qualification.
By Alusine Rehme Wilson
