The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will not be short of experience when they face the Super Eagles in an AFCON qualifier in Benin City Friday as they have several veterans including Minnesota United striker Kei Kamara, who at the ripe old age of 36, will be expected to deliver the goals.
Kamara has played most of his football in the USA even though he posted a brief stint in the Premier League with Norwich city and has been an international since 2008.
He is back to the Leone Stars after he quit last year following a spat with then coach Silas Tetteh.
Mustapha Bundu, a powerful and fast winger, cost Anderlecht 3 million Euros in the summer from Danish club Aarhus.
However, it has been tough going for the 23-year-old Bundu in Belgium thus far.
Skipper Umar Bangura, 33, will also be in Benin after some media reports initially ruled him after he tested positive for Coronavirus last month.
The FC Zurich defender or midfielder remains one of his country’s top stars and his experience will come in handy against one of the most lethal attacks in African football.
Mustapha Dumbuya is a right back or winger, who has been capped 12 times since 2012. Had a delayed debut for Leone Stars due to mix ups but has done well to earn a call up from coach John Keister. Left Sierra Leone at age five to England and has played most of his career there, but currently playing in the USA for Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL championship.
Left back Kevin Wright is one of the players born abroad. The Essex-born defender plays in Sweden for Orebro and he’s one of the latest call ups after he made his debut and his only game thus far in the last friendly against Mauritania.
Another Leone Star to look out for is midfielder Rodney Strasser. One-time poster boy of Sierra Leone football returns to the team after some time in the wilderness due thanks to his irregular club form despite his huge potential.
Rejuvenated at Finnish side TPS, this once promising midfielder is expected to knock his international career back to shape. He’s only been capped 10 times since his debut in 2010.
Watch out too for Osman Kakay, another of the players born abroad. The 23-year-old Westminister-born defender plays in England for Queens Park Rangers, has only been capped twice. Made his debut against Ethiopia on 9 September, 2018 in an AFCON qualifier.
A QPR regular this season, he’s expected to start at the heart of defence.
