Umaru Bangura (born 7 October 1987) is a Sierra Leonean former professional footballer who played for the Sierra Leone national team. He played as a central defender or in midfield.
Career
Hønefoss Bangura started his senior career with Hønefoss BK in Norway.
Haugesund In January 2011, Bangura moved to Eliteserien club FK Haugesund. He made his league debut for the club on 20 March 2011 in a 2–0 away loss to Tromsø IL. He was subbed on in the 71st minute for Ugonna Anyora. He scored his first league goal for the club on 25 September 2011 in a 1–0 home victory over Aalesunds FK. His goal came in the 54th minute.
During the English 2013 summer transfer window, Bangura attracted interest from Premier League side Crystal Palace, but the move failed to materialise.
Dinamo Minsk In December 2013, Bangura agreed to move to FC Dinamo Minsk in the Vysheyshaya Liga. He made his league debut for the club on 30 March 2014 in a 1–0 away victory over FC Dnepr Mogilev. He played all ninety minutes of the match.
Zürich In August 2016, he signed a three years contract with Swiss club FC Zürich. He made his league debut for the club on 22 August 2016 in a 1–0 home victory over Neuchâtel Xamax. He was subbed on for Armando Sadiku in the 84th minute. He scored his first league goal for the club on 2 October 2016 in a 5–0 away victory over FC Wohlen. His goal, scored in the 61st minute, made the score 4–0 to Zürich.
Neuchâtel Xamax On 8 January 2021, it was announced that Bangura had joined Swiss Challenge League club Neuchâtel Xamax on a contract until the end of the season, after being released by Zürich.
International career Bangura is the captain of the Sierra Leone national team. In October 2019, he stated that he was considering quitting the national team after his team was attacked by angry fans, but retracted his decision soon after and represented Sierra Leone at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, the country's first ever AFCON.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalPlay-offsTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHønefoss2006Adeccoligaen150 ——1512007Adeccoligaen230 ——2302008Adeccoligaen272 ——2722009Adeccoligaen29310——3032010Tippeligaen29241—30363Total12375100301319Haugesund2011Tippeligaen24140——2812012Tippeligaen29010——3002013Tippeligaen28040——320Total811900000901Dinamo Minsk2014Vysheyshaya Liga2300070—3002015Vysheyshaya Liga22030120—3702016Vysheyshaya Liga1304000—170Total5807019000840Zürich2016–17Swiss Challenge League1712030—2212017–18Swiss Super League24040——2802018–19Swiss Super League2502080—3502019–20Swiss Super League14010——1502020–21Swiss Super League0010——10Total801100110001111Neuchâtel Xamax2020–21Swiss Challenge League18000——1802021–22Swiss Challenge League3010——40Total210100000220Career total36393213003042810
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSierra Leone200620200750200860201020201140201260201340201462201540201641201711201940202020202120202210Total534 Sierra Leone score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bangura goal
+ List of international goals scored by Umaru BanguraNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 National Stadium, Freetown, Sierra Leone 1–0 1–0 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification2 National Stadium, Freetown, Sierra Leone 2–0 2–0 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification3 National Stadium, Freetown, Sierra Leone 1–0 1–0 Friendly4 National Stadium, Freetown, Sierra Leone 2–0 2–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Honours Order Sierra Leone Member of the Order of the Rokel: 2017
References
External links