It was pure Ibrahim Kamara magic under the Suez Canal Stadium lights as the Sierra Leone captain delivered a sensational hattrick to lead his side to a stunning 4-1 comeback victory over hosts Egypt in their TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (U-20 AFCON) Group A clash on Wednesday evening.
The match, billed as a showdown between the home favorites and the underdogs, erupted into life in the second half when Kamara—who earned Man of the Match honors—struck three long-range beauties, each bending Egypt’s defensive line further back.
The drama began with Egypt’s Khaled Soliman giving the home fans hope just before halftime with a sharp near-post finish. But Sierra Leone came roaring back after the break, Kamara equalizing in the 63rd minute with a precise strike before adding a second just minutes later.
Egypt’s unraveling continued when defender Mohammed Samir conceded a penalty, coolly converted by Sallieu Bah to extend Sierra Leone’s lead. Kamara then sealed the night with his third—a left-footed rocket—sparking jubilant celebrations as Sierra Leone soared to the top of Group A.
Who else?
Momoh Kamara deservedly collects the Man of the Match award thanks to a stellar hattrick. 🔥🇸🇱@Football2Gether | #SLEEGY | #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/qtaDELrM2S
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) April 30, 2025Elsewhere, South Africa revived their U-20 AFCON hopes with a tight 1-0 win over Tanzania, courtesy of a 27th-minute goal by Shakeel April. The Amajita’s resilience in the closing stages kept their quarterfinal dreams alive, while Tanzania, despite a spirited fightback, were left frustrated by missed chances.
With group standings tightening, the next U-20 AFCON fixtures promise high drama: Tanzania will face Sierra Leone on Saturday, while hosts Egypt look to bounce back against Zambia, who are eager to break into the top two after sharing points with Sierra Leone earlier.
