Mustapha Bundu Sierra Leone International training at Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle
Mustapha Bundu returned to training with Plymouth Argyle less than 48 hours after playing for Sierra Leone in a shock 1-0 win against African champions Ivory Coast.
He started the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast in the Liberian city of Monrovia and was on the left of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation. The 27-year-old was taken off in the 73rd minute with the game still goalless and Sierra Leone clinched the upset victory after an 85th minute goal from former Walsall, Coventry City and Bolton Wanderers striker Amadou Bakayoko.
Bundu is available for selection for Argyle’s return to Championship action after the international break against Cardiff City in a 12.30pm kick-off in the capital city of Wales tomorrow.
Sierra Leone’s win against Ivory Coast has kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco at the end of next year. Their final two Group G games are against Chad and Zambia next month.
Argyle head coach Wayne Rooney said: “It’s always a huge honour to go away and play for your country, and especially when you pick up good results.”
The versatile Bundu, who can play out wide or through the centre of the pitch, has made just two starts and four substitute appearances for Argyle in the Championship this season. He did get one of the goals in the 3-0 Carabao Cup first round home win against Cheltenham Town in August.
Rooney said: “He can play in different positions. It’s always important when you have players who can do that in your squad. Especially after the next international break, we have got a lot of games in a short period of time and we are going to need all the players.”
Bundu was one of several Argyle players away on international duty over the last couple of weeks, but the rest of the squad were kept busy during that time.
Rooney said: “It’s always nice when you go into it on the back of a victory (the 2-1 home win against Blackburn Rovers on October 5). The players have had a few days off.
“They have also had a schedule to continue their work and do some running within that as well, which they have all done. We have had a good week of preparation for the game on Saturday. I have been really pleased with it.”
Courtesy MSN News
