Sarah Turay Shines as Sierra Leone Opens WAFU U-17 Girls Tournament with Victory Over Senegal

In a thrilling start to the 2025 WAFU A Zone U-17 Girls Championship, young star Sarah Turay led Sierra Leone to a vital 2-1 victory over Senegal on Wednesday evening at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Stadium.

Her late-winning goal cemented Sierra Leone’s promising campaign in the regional youth tournament.

Turay, a rising talent known for her performances with Mena Queens and Koya Queens in Sierra Leone’s Women’s Premier League, delivered in the 78th minute with a composed finish that kept the Sierra Leonean fans hopeful. Her relentless energy and skill throughout the match kept Senegal’s defense on their toes.

The match kicked off with Senegal taking an early lead, thanks to Ndeye Haby Barro, who scored in the 17th minute to give her team an advantage. However, Sierra Leone responded swiftly, with Marian Sankoh netting the equalizer less than a minute later, setting the stage for a fiercely contested game.

Despite both sides pushing hard, neither team could find the winning goal until Turay’s decisive strike late in the second half. Her goal secured three crucial points for Sierra Leone, sparking celebrations among players and supporters alike.

This victory marks an encouraging start for head coach Fatmata Turay’s squad as they chase their first-ever regional youth title. The tournament, which features only three nations—Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Senegal—comes after several teams, including Mali, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Cape Verde, withdrew shortly before the tournament began.

Currently leading the standings with three points and two goals, Sierra Leone is well-positioned ahead of their next match against Liberia scheduled for Friday, September 19. The tournament follows a round-robin format, with each team facing the others twice, and the team with the most points will be crowned champions.

Sierra Leone will also face Senegal again on September 23, and conclude their campaign with a second match against Liberia on September 25. Securing wins in these fixtures would put Sierra Leone on the brink of their first regional youth title.

All eyes are on Sarah Turay, the talented forward from Konsho Village near Makeni, whose exceptional performance has quickly made her one of the standout players of the tournament. Her impact could shape Sierra Leone’s hopes of lifting the trophy this year.