BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – Sierra Leone’s U-15 national team, the Young Leone Stars, have been crowned Tier D Champions (9th–16th classification) at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Azerbaijan after an impressive 2-1 victory over Oman in the final on Friday morning.
The victory means Sierra Leone finish 9th overall among 32 elite nations in Tier D, and among the top teams in a festival that brought together 189 Member Associations – the biggest youth football gathering in FIFA history.
The final was played at the Hovsan Olympic Sports Complex in Baku at 10:15 a.m. Azerbaijan time (6:15 a.m. Sierra Leone time).
A Remarkable Comeback Story
It was a tournament of character for Coach Zayad Zubairu’s boys.
Placed in tough Group AF alongside Afghanistan, Russia, Turkey, Sudan and Djibouti, Sierra Leone started with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Afghanistan on 24th October.
They bounced back in style:
– 26th Oct: Thrashed Turkey 5-1
– 26th Oct: Thumped Djibouti 5-0
– 28th Oct (Round of 32): Edged Lesotho 1-0 to reach Round of 16
– 28th Oct (Round of 16): Lost narrowly 1-0 to Kosovo – a result that dropped them to Tier D, the 9th–16th place classification
– 29th Oct (Quarter-final): Beat Aruba 3-1 to reach semis
– 29th Oct (Semi-final): Convincing 3-0 win over Zimbabwe
– 30th Oct (Final): Beat Oman 2-1 to lift Tier D trophy
With 17 goals scored in their winning run, the Young Leone Stars showed resilience and attacking flair.
What Is This Tournament?
The FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival is not the traditional U-17 World Cup. It is a new developmental festival approved by FIFA Council on 25th June 2026 and hosted by Azerbaijan from *24th–30th October.
Key facts for Sierra Leonean fans:
– Format: 8-a-side, 2 halves of 20 minutes, small pitches – to develop technical skills, not just physical power
– Structure: No team goes home early. After group stage, teams are placed into 6 tiers (A-F) based on performance. Tier A winner is crowned overall World Champion. Tier D winner is 9th overall.
– Beyond Football: The festival includes cultural exchange, education workshops, and friendship activities. More than 3,000 players and officials are participating.
– Eligibility: Boys born in 2011 and 2012. The girls’ edition will be held in 2027.
– Venue: All matches live on FIFA+ and DAZN from Baku Crystal Hall and Hovsan Complex.
The triumph is a huge boost for youth football in Sierra Leone. FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally visited the team at Pitch 9B on 27th October, encouraging the boys and posing with SLFA First Vice President Alie Badara Tarawally.
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) delegation is headed by Executive Committee Member Joseph Benedict Mboagba.
The SLFA has congratulated the players, technical team and everyone who contributed, saying the 9th-place finish “represents a commendable achievement and a significant milestone for the country’s youth football development.”
After years of struggling at senior level, the Young Leone Stars have given Sierra Leone a reason to smile on the world stage.
