Charlton Athletic FC striker Daniel Kanu on loan to fifth-tier side Southern United & Derby County midfielder Tyrese Fornah and Liga Leumit side Hapoel Kfar Saba defender Abdulai Jajue Kabia are the new inclusions as Sierra Leone prepares for Ethiopia and Egypt.
Coach Amidu Karim has named his side to face Ethiopia and Egypt in the opening qualifiers in the race to the 2026 World Cup but without four key players.
No Curtis Davies, Mustapha Bundu, Issa Kallon & Alex Bangura in coach Amidu Karim’s troops for vital openers
Plymouth Argyle winger Mustapha Bundu was ruled out during a hamstring injury as former England International Curtis Davies is still waiting on the Association switch approval from Fifa before he can represent Sierra Leone.
In his 24-man squad, other notable absentees are Middlesbrough left-back Alex Bangura, who has not returned since Dubai training camp in November 2022, and Shanghái Port‘s attacker Issa Kallon, also not named.
Odense BK attacker Mohamed Buya Turay, who scored three goals in a recent training camp against Benin and Somalia, is listed.
After a successful Fifa window, where Sierra Leone drew with Benin and defeated Somalia 2-0, they face a tricky test against the Walia Ibex of Ethiopia on Wednesday.
Ethiopia hosts Sierra Leone on Nov 15 in El Abdi Stadium – four days later, Leone Stars host the Pharaohs of Egypt in the Liberian Capital, Monrovia, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium.
Starting the campaign well will be the utmost task for Coach Karim and his technical team. However, Sierra Leone has yet to defeat the Walias of Ethiopia in their last two meetings.
In the 2018 AFCON qualifiers, Sierra Leone suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Hawassa International Stadium, but the result was null and void following the country’s disqualification.
Sierra Leone went into the qualifying period but was disqualified due to a suspension by CAF.
In the last World Cup qualifier against Liberia, the Lone Star won the first leg in Liberia 3-1 before losing the return match in Freetown through Kei Kamara’s goal. Both matches were played on the 4th and 8th of September 2019, respectively.
The Fifa 23rd edition of the World Cup will be played across Canada, Mexico, and the USA, including at Olympic venues.
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