Sierra Leone’s head coach, Alhaji Foray, has called up 40 home-based players to begin training today, October 21, 2024, as the team gears up for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers.

The national squad is preparing for a critical double-header against Liberia, with the first match scheduled for October 27 and the return leg set for November 1, 2024.

Among the selected players are four goalkeepers: Francis Koroma, Isaac Caulker, Donald Kamara, and Unisa Conteh, who will be tasked with safeguarding Sierra Leone’s goal throughout the qualifiers.

The squad also boasts a strong defensive lineup, featuring 13 players, including Nathaniel Bangura, Mohamed Sallieu Tarawally, and Edward Fornah.

In the midfield, Sierra Leone will rely on the talents of players like Mohamed Fogbawa, Ibrahim Turay, and Hassan Milla Sesay, among others.

Meanwhile, the forward line is packed with attacking options, with 13 strikers, including Musa Noah Kamara, Alpha Kamara, and Samuel Ghandi, expected to lead the charge for goals.

The CHAN tournament, exclusively for players competing in their domestic leagues, presents a major opportunity for these local talents to showcase their skills on the international stage.

If Sierra Leone manages to overcome Liberia in this round, they will face Senegal in the next stage of the qualifiers. Other key matchups in the second round include Mauritania versus Mali and Guinea versus Guinea-Bissau.

As training commences, the squad will focus on building cohesion and fine-tuning strategies ahead of the crucial fixtures. The upcoming encounters will not only test Sierra Leone’s readiness but also determine their chances of advancing further in the CHAN tournament.