Sierra Leone’s Under-20 national team, the Shooting Stars, have seen their dream of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana come to an end following a 2-0 defeat to The Gambia in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone A Under-20 tournament.

The young Leone Stars went into the encounter hoping to secure a place in the final and move a step closer to achieving their continental ambitions. However, The Gambia proved too strong on the day, scoring twice to end Sierra Leone’s hopes of reaching the final. Despite the disappointment, the Shooting Stars had earlier demonstrated resilience and determination throughout the competition, earning praise for their performances and securing a place among the tournament’s last four teams.

Following their semi-final elimination, Sierra Leone will now turn their attention to the third-place playoff scheduled for Friday, 30 October 2026, where they will face Senegal. The Senegalese were also denied a place in the final after suffering a 3-2 defeat to Guinea in extra time.

The encounter against Senegal presents the Shooting Stars with an opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note and restore some pride after their semi-final disappointment. Although the ultimate objective of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON in Ghana has slipped away, a victory on Friday would give the young Sierra Leoneans a respectable finish to their campaign and valuable experience for future international competitions.

Source: SLFA Media Department