Sumqayit, Azerbaijan – March 30, 2026 – In a tense FIFA Series 2026 international friendly played at the Mehdi Hüseynzadə Stadium in Sumqayit, Azerbaijan edged out Sierra Leone 10-9 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 following 90 minutes of regular time.
Sierra Leone’s Daniel Kanu, the 21-year-old Walsall forward making his mark on the international stage, gave the Leone Stars a deserved lead in the 28th minute with a well-taken strike, his first senior goal for his country. The goal came during a strong first-half performance by Sierra Leone, who went into the break ahead 1-0.
Azerbaijan fought back in the second half, equalizing in the 72nd minute through R. Məmmədov to make it 1-1 and force the contest into a penalty shootout, as no extra time was played in this friendly fixture.
The dramatic shootout unfolded as follows:
Azerbaijan: ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ (9 successful out of 10)
Sierra Leone: ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ (8 successful out of 10)
Azerbaijan ultimately prevailed when Sierra Leone’s final taker missed, securing a 10-9 victory in the shootout.
This result caps a busy period for Sierra Leone in the 2026 FIFA Series, which features non-competitive friendlies designed to give teams valuable international exposure. The Leone Stars had been preparing in Baku ahead of the clash, with Kanu arriving in strong club form from England’s League One.
The match provided important minutes for both sides, particularly for Sierra Leone as they continue building toward future competitive fixtures, including World Cup qualification efforts. Daniel Kanu’s standout moment will be a confidence booster for the young striker.
