Crystal Palace Academy midfielder Hindolo Mustapha, who signed his first professional contract in January, has been selected to play in the opening qualifying matches for the African Cup of Nations representing Sierra Leone.
The Leone Stars will host Chad on September 6th in Liberia and play against Zambia away on September 10th, 2024.
The 18-year-old is a strong midfielder with good ball control and the ability to score from long distances. He progressed through the ranks at the Academy after joining at the Under-9 level.
Mustapha has consistently played above his age group during his time at the Academy and has also appeared for the Under-21s this season.
The player participated in six games for Darren Powell’s U21s, scoring once. He was a key player for the Under-18s side in the 2023/24 season, contributing four goals and seven assists in 16 appearances.
In January 2024, Mustapha signed his first professional contract with the club. He ended the 23/24 campaign with 25 appearances, scoring six goals and providing nine assists.
Only the top two teams from each group in the Cup Nations 2025 qualifiers will secure a spot in the final tournament. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is set to take place in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026.
