Gambian-born winger gets US call-up

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Tuesday Mar 20, 2018. 15:30

Gambian-born winger Kekuta Manneh has been called-up for the United States national squad.

US coach Dave Sarachan announced the call-up on Monday for next week's friendly against Paraguay, running the squad up to 23 players in all.

Manneh was the fourth overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft and is a member of that year's Generation adidas class.

Manneh bagged 22 goals and 12 assists for Vancouver over four and a half seasons before moving to Columbus in a mid-season trade made last year.

Having left Gambia for the United States as an adolescent, he rose to prominence with dominant displays in US Soccer Development Academy and PDL play.

After gaining his US citizenship a year ago, the winger earned his first call-up to the US national side for the January 2017 camp.

Meanwhile, Manneh has since then completed paperwork in accordance with FIFA rules to be eligible to represent the US in an official match.