Host nation Egypt suffered a shock 4-1 defeat to Sierra Leone in their second match of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, a result that dramatically reshapes Group A dynamics and puts their qualification hopes in question.
After beginning their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa, the young Pharaohs appeared to be on track to build momentum in front of home fans at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia.
Egypt took a first-half lead through central defender Ahmed Khaled Gomaa Soliman of Modern SC, who found the net deep into added time (45+5) to raise hopes of another win.
But the second half belonged entirely to Sierra Leone.
A stunning hat-trick from Momoh Kamara (63rd, 66th, 90+8) turned the match on its head, while Sallieu Bah added a penalty in the 76th minute to seal an emphatic win.
📹 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇸🇱 4-1 🇪🇬
Momoh Kamara shines as Sierra Leone emerge victorious against the hosts. 🌟#SLEEGY | #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/Sd6KXMuLEd
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) April 30, 2025
The result not only hands Sierra Leone their first victory of the tournament but also propels them to the top of the group, ahead of their next fixture against Zambia.
Egypt, meanwhile, drop to second in the standings and will need to regroup quickly as competition intensifies.
Their defensive collapse in the second half exposed vulnerabilities that could cost them dearly in a tightly contested group.
South Africa, who had stumbled in their opener, bounced back earlier in the day with a narrow 1-0 victory over Tanzania.
That win came courtesy of a determined performance that earned them their first points of the campaign, lifting them level with Egypt on three points.
The result also leaves Tanzania at the bottom of the table, having played just one match so far.
With five teams in Group A and only the top two guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds, every match carries significant weight.
📹 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇿🇦1-0 🇹🇿
Shakeel April delivers a crucial goal to secure South Africa’s victory over Tanzania. 👏#RSATAN | #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/SYqdECjZUh
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) April 30, 2025
Zambia, who played out a goalless draw with Sierra Leone in their opener, remain unbeaten and could emerge as key contenders depending on the outcome of their upcoming matches.
For Egypt, the pressure is mounting. Having opened the tournament on a high note, they now face the challenge of salvaging their campaign in front of a demanding home crowd, while Sierra Leone’s remarkable turnaround positions them as the team to watch going forward.
