By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

Sierra Queens, the Sierra Leone woman’s national team, have suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin in the first leg of the Women’s CHAN 2026 qualifiers.

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers was held in Togo.

At that game, the final whistle confirmed  Benin’s 2-1 victory over Sierra Leone’s Women’s National Team, the Sierra Queens.

The encounter, which took place on February 20, 2025, showcased the determination and skills of both teams, with Benin taking an early lead.

Despite their efforts to equalize, the Sierra Queens found themselves trailing behind Benin at halftime.

In the second half, Sierra Leone mounted a comeback effort, managing to score a goal, which reignited their hopes for a favourable outcome. However, Benin’s resilience and tactical discipline proved decisive as they maintained their lead until the final whistle.

Benin was in a rough patch prior to their clash with Sierra Leone.

The inability of Benin to keep a clean sheet was evident in most matches played. They had conceded goals for nine consecutive games, suffering defeats to Ghana, Congo, and by other teams.