Leicester’s Alie Sesay Among New Faces in Sierra Leone Squad for Cameroon Clash
3 October 2014
Leicester City defender Alie Sesay has earned his first call-up to the Sierra Leone national team as part of a revamped squad announced by newly appointed head coach Atto Mensah.
Sesay, 21, who was born in London and represents Leicester at youth level, is among 20 foreign-based players selected by Mensah for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Cameroon. Despite being eligible to play for England, the centre-back has opted to represent his country of origin.
“This is a proud moment for me and my family,” said Sesay following his inclusion. “It’s an honour to get the call.”
Due to the ongoing Ebola crisis in West Africa, the Ghanaian-born coach said he had no choice but to exclude domestic-based players, citing both health concerns and the suspension of local football activity.
“I couldn’t select any local players,” Mensah explained. “There’s no domestic competition at the moment, and given the risks surrounding Ebola, I had to be cautious.”
Sierra Leone, currently bottom of their group with zero points following defeats to Ivory Coast (2-1) and DR Congo (2-0), will face Cameroon in both legs of their qualifier in Yaoundé, as the country remains barred from hosting matches due to the epidemic.
Also returning to the national side is midfielder Alhassan Bangura, without a club at present, who hasn’t featured for Sierra Leone since 2008. Notably absent from the squad is any domestic talent, a reflection of the unique challenges facing football in the Ebola-hit nation.
The fixtures against Cameroon will mark the Leone Stars’ first outing since the departure of Irish coach Johnny McKinstry, who was dismissed last month.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers:
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Patrick Bantamoi (RoPS, Finland)
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John Trye (ASA Charge, USA)
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Solomon Zombo Morris (Quevilly, France)
Defenders:
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Alie Sesay (Leicester City, England)
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Umaru Bangura (Dinamo Minsk, Belarus)
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David Simbo (Al Hilal, Sudan)
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Mustapha Dumbuya (Notts County, England)
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Sheriff Suma (IF Syrianska, Sweden)
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Gibril Sankoh (Henan Jianye, China)
Midfielders:
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Mohamed Kamara (Bolton Wanderers, England)
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Mustapha Bangura (Ermis Aradippou, Cyprus)
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John Kamara (PAS Lamia, Greece)
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Alfred Sankoh (Khazar Lankaran, Azerbaijan)
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Gibrilla Woobay (Neftçi Baku, Azerbaijan)
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Alhassan Bangura (Free agent)
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Khalifa Jabbie (Balıkesirspor, Turkey)
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Ibrahim Kallay (IFK Luleå, Sweden)
Forwards:
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Kei Kamara (Free agent)
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Alhassan Kamara (Örebro SK, Sweden)
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George Kweku Davies (Free agent)
