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By: Mohamed Abu Conteh

The Sierra Leone National U-20 team, the Shooting Stars, were today, Friday, April 18, honored with a special Islamic prayer ceremony as part of their spiritual preparation for the upcoming – () – .

The solemn event took place at the Masjid Tunkara on Main Murray Town Road in Freetown, where the team was received by the highly respected . In his powerful sermon, Sheik Farouk emphasized the importance of placing Allah at the center of all endeavors — , , .

He offered heartfelt prayers for the team’s safety, success, and spiritual strength as they embark on what is a truly historic mission — Sierra Leone’s debut appearance at the U-20 AFCON tournament.

The entire Shooting Stars delegation, including -, , , joined the congregation in performing the Juma prayer, further symbolizing the unity, hope, and national pride wrapped around this momentous journey.

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The team is expected to depart for Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday, April 23rd, as they look to make a bold statement on the continental stage in this year’s edition of the prestigious youth competition. With prayers lifted, the nation now rallies behind the Shooting Stars.