Sierra Leone: Premier League Nations | OneFootball

Continuing our alphabetical world tour, next up is Sierra Leone. A small nation on the West coast of Africa, three players have represented Sierra Leone according to the Premier League website.

First Player – Al Bangura (Watford; 2006-07)

Making 16 appearances for Watford in 2006/07, midfielder Al Bangura became the first Sierra Leonean to appear in the Premier League when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United.

A victim of human trafficking as a teenager, Bangura sought asylum in the UK before progressing through Watford’s academy. He was subject to a high-profile immigration case, which memorably inspired Watford fans to display banners of support. Bangura won the right to stay in the UK in January 2008.

After leaving the Hornets in 2009, he played for several lower league clubs, also enjoying short spells in Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Bangura made a solitary appearance for Sierra Leone in 2008. He was unable to travel for home games, fearing for his life after fleeing the country in his youth.

Records

Other Players

Just two weeks after Al Bangura’s Premier League debut, Bangura’s Watford teammate Albert Jarrett became the second Sierra Leonean Premier League player. Jarrett made just one substitute appearance for Watford, playing the rest of his career in the lower leagues.

The third and final Sierra Leonean to play in the Premier League, and the only one to score a Premier League goal was striker Kei Kamara. Kamara joined Norwich on loan for the second half of 2012/13, scoring once in 11 appearances.

Trivia