Sierra Leone National Team

Leone Stars squad and coaching / medical staff [Training Camp ahead of Leone Stars v Swaziland May 2014 (Pic: Darren McKinstry)]

Coach McKinstry has named the starting eleven that will face Swaziland later today.

Goalkeeper
Solomon Zombo Morris (US Quevilly, France)

Defenders
Umaru Bangura (Dinamo Minsk, Belarus)
Ibrahim Marcel Koroma (Varbergs BoIS, Sweden)
Ibrahim 'Soja' Kamara (FC Johansen, Sierra Leone)
Yeami Dunia (FC Johansen, Sierra Leone)

Midfielders
Alfred 'Zagalo' Sankoh (Sanliurfaspor, Turkey)
Khalifa Jabbie (Balikesirspor, Turkey)
Michael Lahoud (Philadelphia Union, USA)

Forwards
Kei Kamara (Middlesbrough, England)
Abdulai Bell Baggie (Tranmere Rovers, England)
Sulaiman Sesay (ETAR FC, Bulgaria)

Substitutes
Aruna Kamara Bangla (FC Kallon, Sierra Leone)
Ishmael 'JawJaw' Koroma (Old Edwardians, Sierra Leone)
Nathanial 'Thongor' Fullah (Ports Authority, Sierra Leone)
Ibrahim Kallay (IFK Lulea, Sweden)
Fayia Kobba (Kamboi Eagles, Sierra Leone)

  

Ibrahim 'Soja' Kamara and Yeame Dunia Selected to make their international debut for the Leone Stars [Leone Stars v Swaziland May 2014 (Pic: Darren McKinstry)]

 

The starting eleven includes two players making their full international debut - Ibrahim 'Soja' Kamara and Yeame Dunia. Both players had featured in recent games in the WAFU Home based players tournament in Ghana (2013) and in the recent u-20 games against Guinea and Ghana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparation Highlights 

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Notes to Editors

  1. The game is the first game (away leg) in the second round qualifier against Swaziland on 18 May 2014 as part of AFCON 2015  
  2. You can read more about the AFCON 2015 tournament and the Leone Stars fixtures.
  3. Johnny McKinstry was appointed Head Coach of the Sierra Leone National Men's Football team on 11th April 2013.  You can read more about his time in charge of the Leone Stars
  4. See www.johnnymckinstry.com for a range of information - biography, press releases and photographs for press use.
  5. To arrange an email or telephone interview, please contact 

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(Photography by: www.xtratimesports.net)

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You can read more about Coach McKinstry's:

About Coach McKinstry

Coach McKinstry is a UEFA Pro Licensed Football Coach, with a number of successes across his 20+ year career to date.    He is currently Head Coach of the Gambia National Team and Head Coach of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya (2022-24) where he won two Kenya Premier League titles (2023-24, 2022-23), and the 2023-24 Kenya Charity Shield, returning the club to the top of Kenyan football.

As Head Coach of the Uganda National Team, (2019 - 2021) he led Uganda to win CECAFA 2019 and delivered a win from 2 in every 3 games, going undefeated in 8 in evey 10 games.  This represented the highest 'win' and 'undefeated' rate achieved by a Uganda National Team Coach in over 15 years.

He was Head Coach of the Rwanda National Football Team (2015-16). Within 17 months he led Rwanda to a number of highs - including their first ever appearance in the knockout stages of a major international tournament (Quarter-finals of CHAN, Jan 2016) and finished runner-up in CECAFA (Dec 2105), being named 'Coach of the Tournament' for his efforts. 

Across 2013-14, he was Head Coach of the Sierra Leone National Men's Football team. Within just over a year, he had led Sierra Leone to their highest ever FIFA World and African rankings - 7th in Africa and 50th in the World (August 2014). 

He has also been Head Coach of Saif Sporting Club, Bangladesh Premier League (2018-19); and FK Kauno Zalgiris, Lithuanian A-Lyga (2017-18).   

Coach McKinstry is a European (UEFA), American (NSCAA) and university qualified football coach and a member of Common Goal.

Quotes: What the media say

  • Very few 29-year-olds have managed a national football team. None have done it while that country is being brought to its knees by Ebola.

    Read More
    Ben Smith BBC Sport
  • Leone Stars shine with purpose... what is even more remarkable is what the young Northern Irishman has done ... the Leone Stars are ranked 50th in the world and seventh in Africa – higher than they have ever been.

    Read More
    fifa.com
  • McKinstry made an impressive start, losing just one of his first six matches and leading Sierra Leone into the top 50 of Fifa's world rankings, above Northern Ireland, the Republic, Cameroon and Senegal.

    Read More
    Ben Smith BBC Sport
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