February 9, 2021
By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Sierra Leone National U-17 Team (Sierra Stars) has on Sunday the 7th February 2021 crashed out the West Africa Football Union zonal A U-17 tournament hosted in Senegal.
The team played two of their matches in the group stage and failed to score a single goal in the tournament.
The U-17 Tournament which started on Friday 5th February and will end on Saturday 13th February 2021
The winner together and runners up will represent the continent in the U-17 Nations Cup to be hosted in Morocco.
At the end of full time, Sierra Stars lost 5-0 to Mali. The first half saw the Malians scoring three goals and added two more goals in the second half to make it five with no goals from Sierra Stars.
Goal scorers for Mali were Koita #18, Mahamadou Doumbia #19, Bandiougou Dial #20 (scored a brace) and Yacouba Maiga #10. Playing two games without a point means the Sierra Stars are automatically out of this year’s tournament.
The defeat means Mali and Guinea Bissau qualified to the next stage from Group B. The match was officiated by Referee Ngum Fatou from The Gambia, Moussa Traore from Guinea Assistant Referee (1) and Joel Wonka Doe Assistant Referee (2) from Liberia, Abdoulate Matet Fourth Official from Guinea, Jammeh Bojang Match Commissioner from The Gambia and Edou Faye General Coordinator from The Gambia.
After the match the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Senegal H.E Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma addressed the players telling them to summon courage and keep the faith, by doing in traiing and preparedness as they have a long way to go.
“In the game of football the better side does not always win. Your best is expected in your next tournament.”
The Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Football Association Chris Kamara also gave words of encouragement to the players and admonished them that they Football Association will look forward to give the necessary support and not give up on thee aquad.
The head Coach Raymond Lewis however refused to accept the result of the match, state that most of the Malian players are not U-17 players.
He added that the organizes failed to ascertain the right ages of the Malian players but stressed that his boys will learn from this and move on early before the qualifiers.
He remains confidants that his boys are going to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in Morocco.
The Sierra Leone Football Association has put in more resources to prepare the boys with host of Friendlies earmarked both at home and out of the country and later camp in Bo- five stars Hotel. This is just to give them the necessary support ahead of the qualifiers, A-Z sport has gathered.
