Sierra Leone’s U-20 national team, the Shooting Stars, will now play two matches instead of three in the ongoing WAFU Zone A U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Mali following Guinea-Bissau’s withdrawal from the competition.
According to an official memorandum from WAFU Zone A, Guinea-Bissau communicated its decision to withdraw, prompting a revision of the Group B fixture schedule.
The Shooting Stars were originally scheduled to face Guinea-Bissau in their opening match on Friday, October 16, 2026. However, following the withdrawal, Sierra Leone will begin its campaign against Mauritania on Monday, October 19, before facing Senegal on Thursday, October 22.
The revised schedule means Sierra Leone will have to adjust its preparations as it seeks to make a strong start in the regional competition, which serves as a qualifying tournament for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
With the top two teams in Group B advancing to the semi-finals, the Shooting Stars will be looking to secure positive results in their two remaining matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage alive.