Sierra Leoneโs Under-20 national team, the Shooting Stars, have safely returned home following their participation in the ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐-๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐๐๐๐, where they finished fourth after reaching the semi-finals.
The young Shooting Stars began their campaign against Mauritania and Senegal, demonstrating determination and resilience to secure a place in the semi-finals. However, their hopes of reaching the final were ended by The Gambia, who defeated Sierra Leone to advance to the final.
Despite the setback, the Shooting Stars showed character and professionalism in their third-place encounter against Senegal. The entertaining contest ended in a penalty shootout after both teams battled to secure victory, with Senegal eventually winning 6-5.
Although Sierra Leone missed out on qualification for the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, the teamโs fourth-place finish provided valuable international experience for the players and technical team, offering encouraging signs for the future of youth football in the country.
The 38-member Sierra Leone delegation, comprising 25 players and 13 officials, has safely arrived back home following the conclusion of the tournament. While qualification for the U-20 AFCON remains unfulfilled, the experience gained in Mali will serve as an important foundation for the continued development of the next generation of Sierra Leonean footballers
