AFCON U-20: Government Pledges $500 Bonus to Players for Quarter-final Victory

The Sierra Leone government has pledged encouragement and a sum of $500 bonus to each player should they secure victory in their quarter-final match against Morocco in the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

A delegation, including Minister of Sport Madam Augusta James-Teima and National Sports Authority (NSA) Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, visited the team’s hotel in Ismailia, Egypt, to reinforce the government’s commitment to the players ahead of this crucial encounter.

Dr. Abdulai praised the team for their discipline and resilience, announcing a $500 bonus for each player should they secure victory in the quarter-final. He stressed on the importance of the match, which could lead to Sierra Leone’s qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, and commended the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) for their organizational efforts.

Madam James-Teima highlighted the positive impact that the U-20 team has on Sierra Leone’s international image, reinforcing the government’s support for youth sports. She also recognized National Teams Ambassador Christian Dauda and national team scout Morlai Kamara for his contributions to talent development.

The team’s captain, Momoh Ibrahim Kamara expressed appreciation on behalf of the players, assuring that they are dedicated to delivering their best performance. Head coach, Mohamed Lamin Kamara echoed this sentiment, stating that the team is united and ready for the upcoming challenge.

The bonus is expected to motivate the young team to secure an historic victory that could see them play in their first ever U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year. Their performance so far has written them off as minnows after a resounding defeat against host, Egypt and a narrow 1-0 defeat against Tanzania. The team secured 7 points in total to make it to the quarter-finals of the competition.