Tottenham ‘insider’ John Wenham believes Kallum Cesay will be loaned out to a League One club next season.

Cesay, 19, who has been in and out of Tottenham’s first-team training under boss Antonio Conte, has been instrumental with the Spurs U23s this season. 

The Sierra Leone international has made 25 appearances for the Tottenham Hotspur Sub 23, playing as a left-back and a right-back.

In March, Cesay received a call-up to the Sierra Leone national team during the Turkey training camp. He scored his first International brace for the Leone Stars on his debut in the 2-1 win over Congo-Brazzaville at the Mardam Stadium.

Wenham admitted that he is surprised by how much the young defender has developed over the last 12 months. 

When asked about Cesay, he told Football Insider, “Until last summer (2021), he had really gone under the radar. There has always been someone ahead of him in the pecking order.

“Then, last summer, quite randomly, in our first pre-season game against Leyton Orient Nuno started him out of nowhere.

“He has been rewarded with this Sierra Leone call up and I think the plan for him now is a new long-term contract ahead of a loan to a League One side next year. I’m always excited by players who come out of nowhere, and I’m really keen to follow his development.”

On Sunday, for the Tottenham Hotspur Sub 23, Kallum was in action against Chelsea Sub 23. The match features some first-team stars, the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr.

They lost 2-1 after Kion Reece Etete had given them the lead in th 57th-minute, but goals from Dion Rankine and Lewis Hall ensured victory for the home side.

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New Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker has admitted that he is excited to lead the Leone Stars into the Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d’Ivoire 2023 qualifying campaign.

The Gaziantep defender, who is on loan from Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe, is set to lead Sierra Leone to his first continental qualifiers. 

Sierra Leone pitted in Group A, where they will face three-time Champions Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome or Mauritius, hoping to make successive Africa Cup of Nations appearances.

The qualifying matches will begin May 30, 2022, ahead of the tournament proper in Cote d’Ivoire. Sierra Leone will open their Group A campaign against Nigeria before hosting Guinea Bissau in the Guinean capital a few days after.

Caulker, 30, says he’s ready to test himself again against the best in African football, knowing that the task is a challenging one.

“I am excited – I think we got a lot of new talents, new players, a new system, and a new identity. I am really thrilled about taking this group into the qualifiers,” Caulker vehemently told FSL Sport.

The former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur centre-back, who made his International debut for the Leone Stars in the goalless draw against Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, accepted that there are no easy games in African football.

“Our group is going to be tough. Obviously, Nigeria will be looking to bounce back after their disappointment in the World Cup qualifier against Ghana. Nigeria will want to prove they are a good team. The others, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome or Mauritius, going to be tricky games. For me, no easy game in African Football.”

The West African stadium nation is one of the many venues banned by the Confederation of African Football. On playing away from Freetown, Caulker is positive but noted he would have loved to play in Sierra Leone. 

“My honest opinion is that I would have loved to play in front of our fans in Sierra Leone, but it is what it is. We have to be ready. It is always good to face the best. It creates that challenge. We have to be at our best for all the games.”

On the Nigeria opener 

“Against Nigeria is an opportunity to put Sierra Leone on the global football map. I am sure we have done that in the last Afcon. We have to be at our best for all the games, not only against Nigeria. We should be heading into every game and believe we can win.”

He was named skipper of Sierra Leone during their Mediterranean training camp, where they lost 3-0 to Togo before victories against Liberia (1-0) and 2-1 over Congo during the March Fifa International break.

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Tyrese Fornah is a Sierra Leone native who is presently playing for League One side Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the season. 

The 22-year-old, who joined the Reds in the summer of 2018 following his release from Brighton and Hove Albion, has been a pivotal figure for Steve Cotterill‘s side.

He has been described as a combative central midfielder because of his display and high work ethic.

The midfielder made his professional debut for Forest in a third-round FA Cup defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January 2020.

He impressed out on loan in League One last season, making 44 appearances in all competitions for Plymouth Argyle.

Delighted to sign for @shrewsweb on loan, can’t wait to get started and contributing to the team 🙏🏾🙌🏾 https://t.co/E7KS2OC6FA

— TyreseFornah (@TyreseFornah) January 18, 2022

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SC Cambuur Alex Bangura has confirmed that he will be out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury he sustained during a training session on Thursday.

Sierra Leone will face Three-time African champions Nigeria, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome or Mauritius in the Group A race to Ivory Coast 2023.

The left-back will miss Sierra Leone’s opening 2023 African Cup of Nation qualifying matches against Nigeria and Guinea Bissau.

Bangura, 22, who made his Sierra Leone debut against Togo at the Mardan Stadium on the 29th of March during the Leone Stars training camp in Turkey, could also miss the remainder of the Dutch season. 

“Unfortunately, I will not be available for the first two Sierra Leone qualifying games because I have fractured my right ankle. I am now on crutches for a few days,” Alex Bangura told FSL News.

The first two qualifiers will kick start between May 30th to June 14th 2022, ahead of the kickoff of the tournament proper in Cote d’Ivoire.

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The oldest player ever to have represented Sierra Leone at the African Cup of Nations, Kei Kamara, has confirmed his retirement from international football – two days after the Afcon 2023 draw.

In his statement issued on Thursday afternoon, the MLS legend stated, “Today I am finally hanging my international jersey to focus on my club career. Now when those international breaks come, I will spend tie with my family, but I will always miss the games at Siaka Steven Stadium.”

“Fifteen years ago, I decided to wear the green, white and blue and represent you on the international stage. I never knew what the journey would bring me, but I tell you, I would do it all over again if I had the chance.”

“Thank you, Sierra Leone, for letting your son dream – a dream that’s not only mine but also one of many Sierra Leone people home and abroad.

“I’ll continue to serve you in any way that I can. I wish Leone Stars all the best and I cannot wait to celebrate you every step of the way.”

The MLS veteran is the fifth all-time leading scorer in league history with 131 goals (and 47 assists) across 368 regular-season matches. 

Kamara has earned 39 caps for the Leone Stars from 2010 to 22, including the just concluded 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Presently, he is playing for CF Montréal, his ninth MLS team, having had spells with Columbus Crew, Sporting Kansas City, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United FC and more.

The former f Norwich City striker made his debut for Sierra Leone in a 2-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in Malabo in June 2008.

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I love you Mama Salone ⚽️🇸🇱🫶🏿 pic.twitter.com/erBU1IEP9a

— KEI KAMARA (@keikamara) April 21, 2022