By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The city of Bo is abuzz with excitement as Sierra Leone’s U-17 women’s football team prepares for a crucial match against Guinea in the second round of the 2025 FIFA Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers. Following an impressive victory over the Central African Republic in the preliminary stage, the young Leone Stars are now focused on taking another step toward securing a spot on the global stage.
On Saturday, March 8, 2025, the Southern Arena will host the first leg of this pivotal tie. Both teams have arrived in Bo, with the Guinean squad settling in earlier this week, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense and thrilling match. Sierra Leone’s squad, under the guidance of head coach Fatmata Turay and her technical team, has ramped up preparations, fine-tuning tactics and strategies to overcome their West African rivals.
This qualification campaign marks the 10th edition of the African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification, a biennial competition organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It serves as the pathway for Africa’s top young female talents to earn a place at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
A total of four teams from Africa will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, alongside Morocco, which has automatically qualified as the host nation. With such high stakes, the competition is fierce, with teams battling for one of the coveted spots on the world stage.
The stakes are even higher in this two-legged affair, as only the winner will advance to the final round of qualification, where they will face either Ivory Coast or Burundi. With the return leg set for March 15 in Bamako, Mali, the young Sierra Leonean squad understands the importance of securing a strong result on home soil.
Team captain Fatmata Tonkolili Koroma expressed confidence ahead of the match, saying, “We have worked hard, and we believe in our abilities. Playing at home is an advantage, and we will give everything to make our country proud.”
The Southern Arena is expected to be filled with passionate fans eager to support the team, adding to the electric atmosphere. With the nation’s hopes riding on their shoulders, the U-17 women are determined to continue their journey toward historic World Cup qualification.
As match day approaches, all eyes will be on Bo, where Sierra Leone’s rising stars aim to shine once again.
