Sierra Leone Under-20 national team, the Shooting Stars, secured a 2-2 draw against Mauritania after scoring a late equaliser in their WAFU-A U-20 tournament encounter in Mali.
The result came after Sierra Leone fought back in the closing moments to avoid defeat, having conceded a goal in the 83rd minute that put Mauritania ahead.
The Shooting Stars started positively and took the lead in the 24th minute. However, Mauritania responded 11 minutes later, scoring in the 35th minute to bring the game level at 1-1 before the break.
Both teams returned for the second half with the match still evenly balanced. Sierra Leone looked to regain the lead, but Mauritania found a breakthrough in the 83rd minute to move ahead 2-1.
With time running out, the Shooting Stars faced the challenge of finding a goal to keep the match from ending in defeat. They continued to push forward and were rewarded in the second minute of stoppage time, when they scored to make it 2-2.
The late equaliser ensured that Sierra Leone left the encounter with a point after recovering from a difficult position in the closing stages.
The draw allows the Shooting Stars to build on their performance as they continue their campaign in the WAFU-A Under-20 tournament.
The competition brings together under-20 national teams from Zone A of the West African Football Union (WAFU), providing young players with an opportunity to gain international experience and compete for regional honours.
Sierra Leone will look to carry the determination shown in their late fightback into their remaining matches as they pursue a strong finish in the competition.