Middlesbrough defender Alex Bangura has been called up to the Sierra Leone national team by head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa after Emmanuel Samadia withdrew from the squad due to injury.

Bangura joins the Leone Stars ahead of their upcoming double-header against Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea. Sierra Leone will face Zimbabwe in Morocco before travelling to face Equatorial Guinea away a few days later.

The latest squad update comes as Leone Stars continue their campaign with hopes of securing qualification for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Meanwhile, forward Augustus Kargbo is unavailable for the two fixtures, while former Scotland Under-21 midfielder Azeem Abdulai has received his first call-up to the Sierra Leone senior national team.

With several changes to the squad, attention will now turn to Gomes Da Rosa and his players as they prepare for two crucial qualifying matches.