The local football governing body (SLFA) expects fifteen foreign-based players, including Steven Caulker, Issa Kallon, to join the national team’s training by December 28.

The likes of Queens Park Rangers right-back Osman Kakay, Wealdstone centre back David Sesay, Peterborough United attacker Idris Kanu, China-based striker Mohamed Buya Turay and left-back Kevin Wright are all expected by next Tuesday.

Thirteen out of twenty-eight foreign-based already in Sierra Leone are striker Kei Kamara, Randers striker Alhaji Kamara, SKN St. Polten midfielder George Davies, Keşla midfielder John Kamara, Varnamo striker Christian Moses, two unattached players Mohamed ‘Medo’ Kamara, former Bolton Wanderers midfielder and former Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Mustapha Dumbuya.

Skipper Umaru Bangura from Neuchâtel Xamax in Switzerland, former Milan midfielder Rodney Strasser, LA Galaxy attacker Augustine Williams, Víkingur Reykjavík Urvalsdeild, winger Kwame Quee keeper Mohed Kanu from Liberia and AGF Aarhus winger Mustapha Bundu, who is on loan from Anderlecht.

Head coach Keister named his 40-man preliminary squad on Monday but will trim it down to 28 by the CAF deadline latest this month.

The 33rd edition of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off on January 9 in Cameroon. Sierra Leone will compete in Group E with defending champions Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire.

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