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USL FC Cincinnati

Two FC Cincinnati Players Called up for Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers

August 30, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release


CINCINNATI - Two FC Cincinnati players have been named to rosters for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month. Midfielder Michael Lahoud has been added to Sierra Leone's roster, while defender Pa Konate has been named to Guinea's roster.

Lahoud and Sierra Leone will face Ethiopia on Sunday, Sept. 9, at Hawassa International Stadium in Awassa, Ethiopia. Lahoud has four caps for Sierra Leone, which is competing in Group F of Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying with Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia. Sierra Leone comes into the Sept. 9 match day with a 1-0-0 record in group play.

Konate, who has previously represented his native Sweden at the senior international level, is using his one-time FIFA nationality switch to play for his ancestral Guinea, where his father was born. Konate and Guinea will host the Central African Republic on Sept. 9 in Conakry. Guinea is in Group H of qualifying and has a 1-0-0 record in group play, which also includes Central African Republic, Ivory Coast and Rwanda.

Prior to his switch, Konate earned three caps with Sweden's senior team and also had appearances with the country's U-21 and U-23 squads. He was a member of Sweden's 2016 Olympic Games squad in Rio de Janeiro, and helped Sweden win the 2015 UEFA U-21 Championship.

Both players are expected to join their respective national teams following FC Cincinnati's game on Sept. 1, and are expected to be available for FCC's Sept. 16 game against Toronto FC II. FCC anticipates they'll both miss the Orange and Blue's Sept. 8 game at Louisville City FC.

First-place FC Cincinnati (17-3-6, 57 pts.) returns to the field on Saturday, Sept. 1, when the Orange and Blue host Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Nippert Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be televised live on WSTR 64, carried live on The Project 100.7 FM and also streamed live on ESPN+. FC Cincinnati currently has an 11-point lead in the Eastern Conference over second-place Louisville (46 pts.).

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