A rising star from Mile 38, a small rural community in the Koya Chiefdom, northwestern Sierra Leone, has made a remarkable debut for the National Under-17 team as the first-choice goalkeeper, showcasing her talent and expressing her optimism for the future.
The West African nation is hosting the Under-17 women’s team from neighbouring Liberia in the ongoing Women’s Day Cup friendlies. This is part of a long celebration ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, which official United Nations theme for 2024 is ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress’ based on the United Nations 68th Commission on the Status of Women.
In an interview with the Football Association, Ishatu A. Koroma shared that she initially faced discouragement from her father, who believed football was a sport for men. Despite this, she persisted, eventually winning her father’s support, who now advises her to commit fully to the sport.
Ishatu expressed her gratitude to her parents, friends, and football supporters for their advice and encouragement. Her dream of wearing the Sierra Leone National Jersey in an international competition has now become a reality. She made her debut in a match between Liberia U-17 and Sierra Leone U-17, which ended 2-1 in their favour on Friday 1 March 2024, at the Kenema City Field.
She was a strong pillar in helping the Sierra Leone National U17 clinch the Women’s Day Cup championship after they defeated Liberia today by 1-0 and was crowned Woman of the Match for her outstanding performance.
Looking ahead, Ishatu aims to play for bigger clubs both nationally and internationally. Currently, she is the First Choice Goalkeeper for Koya Queens FC in the Sierra Leone Female Premier League where her impressive performances over the past two years have earned her recognition and a spot in the national team.
Ishatu’s story is one of determination, breaking stereotypes, and pursuing her passion for football, inspiring many young girls to follow their dreams.
