By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Norwegian second-tier club Mjøndalen IF’s striker, Alie Conteh ‘Nzonzi,’ and Home Base player Alphajor Kamara have both received a late called up to represent the Sierra Leone national team for crucial AFCON 2025 qualifying double-header against Ivory Coast.
The former East End Lions, FC Kallon and Goderich FC forward Alie Conteh popularly know as Nzonzi is scheduled to travel on Tuesday, heading directly from Norway to Ivory Coast to join the national squad in preparation for the upcoming crunch AFCON qualifier matches while Alphajor would travel the same day to join their teammates to prepare for the first leg expected on October 11th in Ivory Coast and the return leg in Liberia on October 15th.
Huddersfield Town forward Josh Koroma and Charlton Athletic forward Daniel Kanu have both been ruled out of Leone Stars’ crunch AFCON 2025 qualifier double-header against the Elephants of Ivory Coast, delivering a major blow to coach Amidu Karim’s initial plans.
The England-based attackers were originally named in coach Amidu Karim’s 25-man squad for the high-stakes TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 qualifiers, scheduled for October 11th and 15th. Their withdrawal means the gaffer needed instant replacements ahead of the country’s must-win encounters.
And the home-based East End Lions forward Alphajor Kamara and Mjøndalen IF striker Alie Conteh ‘Nzonzi’ from Norway are set to replace them in the Leone Stars sqaud.
Both replacements have been immediately notified and will join the national team for what many see as Sierra Leone’s last real chance to guarantee hopes of a possible place at AFCON 2025.
