Newly appointed national home-based coach, Abu Bakarr Tostao Kamara, has released the names of 30 players, who will report for training camp ahead of July’s double header for CHAN in Kenya.
Sierra Leone will host the Teranga Lions of Senegal in the first leg knockout on the weekend of 14-16 July before travelling to Senegal for the return fixture the following week.
The winner of the double-legged tie will face the winners of the Guinea-Bissau and Guinea clash in the second round with the first leg billed to take place between 11 and 13 August, and those of the return leg the following weekend.
Kenya 2018 (also referred to as CHAN 2018) will be the 5th edition of the African Nations Championship.
The CHAN – a tournament for locally-based African players featuring in their own country’s domestic leagues – will be staged in Kenya from 12 January to 4 February 2018.
Sierra Leone was knocked out from the 2016 tournament in the preliminary round by Mauritania thanks to a 4-1 aggregate win. The Mauritanians won the first leg 2-1 at the Nouakchott Stadium and six days later they registered a 2-0 victory at the same venue.
The home-based Leone Stars chose to host their home leg in Nouakchott because Sierra Leone was unable to host international games due to the Ebola outbreak in the country which forced an international ban on all football and sporting activities in the country then.
In 2014, Sierra Leone was eliminated from the qualifiers in their own backyard by Guinea. The Guineans forced Sierra Leone to a 1-1 draw at the National Stadium in Freetown as the first leg in Conakry ended in a goalless draw.
Senegal, on the other hand, has participated in the final phases of CHAN in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2016. In 2014, they were eliminated by Mauritania (1-0 and 0-2) and in 2016; it was the Guineans who pushed them away.
Meanwhile, Coach Kamara, the former Leone Stars Captain will also use his groundwork for the West African Football Union (WAFU) competition.
Invited players are to report at the Sierra Leone Football Academy tomorrow 7 am.
Full List of invited players:
Goal Keepers: Unisa Koroma – East End Lions, Mohamed Rogers- East End Tigers, Issac Caulker- FC Kallon, Ibrahim Bangura- SL Police, Didi- RLSAF
Defenders: Yeami Dunya- FC Johansen, Kempson Fofanah- East End Lions, Yusufu Koroma- East End Tigers, Morie- Kamboi Eagles
Suma Abu- FC Johansen, David Janneh- RSLAF, Lacio- FC Kallon, Auwa- Ports Authority
Midfielders, Alfred Sakila- Central Parade, John Caulker- Blackpool
Mohamed Z. Kargbo- Real Mark, Attacking Midfielders, Abedi Abu Kanu- Blackpool, Gibrilla Osu- FC Kallon, George Matta- FC Johansen
Attackers: Strikers: Abdul Bangura- FC Johansen, Donald Wellington- East End Lions, Kabba Tucker- Anti Drugs, Mark- Freetown City Council, Issac Davies- Black Pool, Abu Komeh- FC Kallon, Kwami Quee- FC Johansen, Abdul Dul- East End Tigers, Prince Barrie- FC Kallon, Alimamy Kamara- RSLAF, Abu Bakarr Mansaray- Old Edwardians
@football_sierra
Sierra Leone | Highlights - 