Sierra Stars Depart For Senegal Ahead Of WAFU-A U-17 Qualifiers

Sierra Leone’s National Under-17 Male Football Team, the Sierra Stars, has departed the country for Senegal via Guinea ahead of the WAFU-A U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Tournament.

The regional tournament is scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal, from September 7 to 20, 2026, bringing together some of the region’s top young football talents.

The Sierra Leone delegation comprises 32 members, including 20 players, eight technical staff and four officials who will represent the country in the qualification campaign.

The Sierra Stars have been drawn in Group A and will begin their campaign against The Gambia on Monday, September 7, at 7:00 p.m.

They will face hosts Senegal on September 10 at 7:00 p.m., before concluding their group-stage matches against Mauritania on September 13 at 4:00 p.m.

The team will be aiming to make a strong impression in the competition and advance in the qualification race for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

As part of the tournament’s mandatory age-verification procedures, the squad is expected to undergo its second Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan upon arrival in Senegal on Thursday, September 3.

The MRI scan forms part of the competition’s age-verification process to ensure that all participating players meet the eligibility requirements for the Under-17 category.

The Sierra Stars will now focus on their preparations ahead of their opening fixture against The Gambia.

The Sierra Leone Football Association has wished the players, technical staff and officials a safe journey and a successful campaign as they represent the country at the WAFU-A U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.