Sierra Leone’s U-20 national team, the Shooting Stars, are on the verge of making history today as they face South Africa for the first time in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

A victory in the 18:00 GMT kick-off at the Suez Canal Stadium would see Sierra Leone achieve a remarkable feat: becoming the first debutants since Congo in 2007 to secure three consecutive victories in the tournament finals.

The Shooting Stars have already made a significant impact in the competition, having already clinched a coveted spot in the quarter-finals. Their journey so far has been nothing short of impressive, marked by a resilient goalless draw against Zambia, followed by a stunning 4-1 triumph over the host nation, Egypt, and a hard-fought 1-0 win against Tanzania.

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Sierra Leone’s performance in this tournament has already rewritten some record books for debutant teams. They are the first debutants to reach the knockout stage since Uganda in 2021, and the first to record back-to-back group stage victories since Ghana in 1991, highlighting their exceptional run in the tournament.

The team’s determination was perfectly encapsulated in their last match against Tanzania, where Samuel Gandi’s decisive goal in the 37th minute secured the crucial win. Captain Alpha Turay also showcased his passing prowess in that game, completing a remarkable 57 passes, the highest of any player on the pitch.

Today’s match will see South Africa face Sierra Leone, marking the 21st different opponent for the South African side in the U-20 AFCON finals. South Africa’s historical record against West African opponents in the tournament stands at three wins, five draws, and nine losses from 17 matches.

Furthermore, South Africa has a notable challenge when facing tournament debutants, having yet to secure a victory against such teams. Their previous encounters with debutants resulted in draws against Burkina Faso, Gabon, and most recently, Niger in 2019. South Africa will be desperately seeking a win today to enhance their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds. Their last win against a West African opponent in open play dates back to 2009, and they have failed to secure a single victory in their last nine encounters with teams from the West African region.

All eyes will be on the Suez Canal Stadium today at 18:00 GMT as the Sierra Leone U-20 Shooting Stars aim to not only continue their impressive run but also etch their name in the history books of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations with a potential record-breaking third consecutive win.