Steven Caulker is set to represent Sierra Leone at the Africa Cup of Nations after making one cap for England in 2012

Former Tottenham and England defender Steven Caulker looks set to feature in next month’s Africa Cup of Nations after switching his international allegiance to Sierra Leone

Some of the world’s best talents will be at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, including Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

But one player that most wouldn’t expect to see at the tournament is Steven Caulker.

The central defender has spent most of his career in England to date, enjoying spells at Tottenham, Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City.

But after the 29-year-old spent a short while at Dundee, Caulker’s career took a bizarre twist as he then moved to Turkish side Alanyaspor.

He spent two seasons at the club before moving to fellow Super Lig side Fenerbahce, who then sent him out on loan to Gaziantep FK.

But Caulker’s story has taken yet another twist as the defender looks set to feature for Sierra Leone at the Africa Cup of Nations – despite having an England cap to his name.

Caulker picked up an England cap back in 2012, where he scored in a friendly clash with Sweden.

The ex-Spurs defender hasn’t featured for England since then – although he did also feature for Team GB back in the London 2012 Olympics.

Caulker is eligible to represent Sierra Leone through his paternal grandfather.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – NOVEMBER 14: Steven Caulker of England celebrates scoring to make it 2-1 during the international friendly match between Sweden and England at the Friends Arena on November 14, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (Image: Michael Regan)

Sierra Leon’s FA president Thomas Daddy Brima confirmed that FIfa had ratified Caulker’s switch, telling BBC Sport Africa: “I can confirm that the player’s status chamber of Fifa has just cleared Caulker to represent Sierra Leone.”

Despite concerns over the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the AFCON is set to go ahead as planned.

Sierra Leone have been drawn in Group A alongside Algeria, Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea, with the competition due to start in Cameroon on the 9th of January.

The month-long tournament is set to leave a host of Premier League clubs without key players for a vital run of fixtures.

Courtesy Daily Star UK

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