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Former Sierra Leone U15 skipper earns historic call up

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson
Sallieu Bah, the talented 17-year-old footballer from Makeni, Sierra Leone, is set to make a historic senior national team debut for the Leone Stars. He received a call-up to the national team on Wednesday evening after being included in Sierra Leone’s 23-man squad by Head Coach John Edward Keister.
This achievement makes Bah the second teenager in Sierra Leonean football history to receive such an honor, following in the footsteps of Mohamed Kallon. Bah's journey to the senior national team has been marked by dedication and hard work. He expressed his joy at seeing his name on the final squad list on the SLFA Facebook page, describing it as a dream come true.
Having previously represented Sierra Leone at the U15 level and skipped the team at the MRU football for peace tournament in 2021, Bah is eagerly anticipating his debut for the senior national team in the AFCON return leg match against Guinea Bissau. In an interview with Awoko Newspaper, Bah shared his enthusiasm for representing his country on the pitch and expressed confidence in his ability to make an impact.
He highlighted his successful career with various junior national teams, including leading the U15 team to the Mano River Union Football for Peace Tournament. Bah's journey to the senior national team also included a stint with Wusum Stars in the Sierra Leone Premier League, where he played a crucial role in helping the team secure a third-place finish. He later moved to Freetown, where he joined Wilberforce Strikers Football Club, contributing significantly to the team's escape from relegation in the 2022/23 national championship. His outstanding performances with Wilberforce Strikers earned him recognition, with Bah receiving six player of the match awards. It's worth noting that Bah is set to start his professional soccer career in Romania with Asociația Clubul Sportiv Petrolu in the coming weeks. While Bah's dream club is Barcelona, he is currently focused on making a mark with the Sierra Leonean national team. He expressed a strong desire to surpass the legendary Mohamed Kallon's senior national team debut and make his own memorable contributions to Sierra Leonean football.
However, the talented teen’s inclusion in the senior national team has garnered significant attention, with top officials from the Sierra Leone Football Association, including President Thomas Daddy Brima and Acting General Secretary Engineer Mohamed Benson Bawoh, as well as Coach John Edward Keister, praising and highlighting his potential during a Leone Stars press conference. As a result, all eyes are now on Bah as he prepares to represent Sierra Leone in their last group (Group A) match in the 2023 TotalEnergies AFCON qualifiers. His call-up is generating excitement and anticipation among football fans in Sierra Leone who believes such call-up can be a stepping stone for young talents to showcase their skills on a bigger stage and contribute to the success of the national team.

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