TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON: Ibrahim Kamara show stuns hosts Egypt
It was the Ibrahim Kamara show on Wednesday evening, as the Sierra Leone captain put up a five-star Man of the Match performance to inspire Sierra Leone to a famous victory over tournament hosts, Egypt in a high-scoring TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Group A tie at the Suez Canal Stadium.
A stunning Kamara hattrick - with all goals coming outside the 18-area was accompanied by a penalty conversion by Sallieu Bah, to see the Shooting Stars emerge 4-1 victors in a dramatic comeback against the hosts.
With a very slow start, Sierra Leone did not look threatening with the ball as compared to the Egyptians who had them pinned in their own half.
It took just 3 minutes for the hosts to ask questions of keeper, Mamadou Jalloh with a right footed effort from outside the box that went inches wide off target.
Sierra Leone could have opened their account in as early as the 24th minute after catching Egypt on the break for Samuel Gandi to find the back of the net, but his goal was overturned by VAR.
With the first half set to conclude goalless, Khaled Soliman fired the hosts into the lead with a well taken shot that beat Jalloh on his near post.
Sierra Leone came back a more determined side after the recess and were duly rewarded for their pressing, with Kamar levelling matters with a well taken strike that caught the keeper off guard in the 63rd minute.
While still trying to gather themselves, Egypt were punished by another strike by Kamara who did well to bring the ball under control from the edge of the box to rifle it home.
With pressure mounting, Egypt conceded a penalty through a handball by Mohammed Samir, for Bah to step up and extend the lead.
The final nail was hammered by the red-hot Kamara after doing well to keep the ball with defenders surrounding him to fire another left footed strike from the box and make it 4-1 to his side.
Sierra Leone's emphatic victory sees them top Group A, while Egypt are second ahead of South Africa who edged Tanzania in the earlier tie.
TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON action continues on Saturday, with Tanzania taking on Sierra Leone in the late afternoon clash, while the Egyptians play host to a wounded Zambia who earned a vital point against Sierra Leone in their opening match.