Former Leone Stars defender and national team captain, Umaru Zengalay Bangura has spoken up in an interview with The Ace Sports Show about his retirement from the Sierra Leone national team. The skipper said that retiring from the national team wasn’t his decision but that of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).

He also stated that he had no idea when SLFA took the captain band from him and that they didn’t even call him to his attention on the decision. The skipper, in an interview with Ace Sports, said the national team is yet to have his replacement. “Sierra Leone doesn’t have my replacement for now”, said Zengalay.

Umaru Zengalay Bangura was part of the Sierra Leone national team that took the country to its first-ever African Cup of Nations in 26 years. He captained the national team to Cameroon and had an outstanding performance. Zengalay, who is the longest-serving player for the Sierra Leone national was stripped of the captain band “without his knowledge” just after the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon. After this event, the 34 years old defender announced his retirement from national team football, news which shocked many Sierra Leoneans.

Zengalay made his first appearance for the Sierra Leone national team in 2006. Since then, he has made 53 appearances and scored four goals in the process. He is the longest-serving player in the national team of Sierra Leone.

Zengalay is currently playing for Neuchâtel Xamax in the Swiss Challenge League in Switzerland. He is one of the most capped international