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Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Kanu Leone stars caretaker coach

New Leone Stars caretaker coach, Ahmed Kanu

Ahmed Kanu has already selected his first Leone Stars squad

Former Sierra Leone international Ahmed Kanu has been named caretaker coach of the Leone Stars.

He will take charge of the return leg of Sierra Leone's World Cup qualifier against Guinea-Bissau on 17 November.

The 39-year-old was appointed assistant coach of the team for the preliminary first leg encounter in Freetown last month, which they won 1-0.

But he found himself in charge of the team on the day when Nigerian caretaker head coach James Peters failed to show up.

The secretary-general of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Alimu Bah told BBC Sport that Kanu will be kept on if the national team is victorious over Guinea-Bissau.

Squad

Kanu has already named a provisional squad of twelve foreign and seventeen home-based players for the match.

Surprisingly, the list of foreign-based players includes Malaysia-based veteran striker Lamin Conteh who played alongside Kanu for the Leone Stars.

Conteh made his last appearance for Sierra Leone almost a year ago but Coach Kanu has defended the striker's inclusion on his list.

"I decided to call up Conteh because I wanted to present a team comprising experienced and up-coming players," Coach Kanu told BBC Sport.

He added: "I know I've accepted it's a difficult job and am going all out to give my best for my country."

BBC SPORT | Football | African | Kanu Leone stars caretaker coach