New Sierra Leone coach Johnny McKinstry has selected two Chelsea youngsters in his squad for two World Cup qualifying matches in June.

Blues reserve Aziz Deen-Conteh, 20, and youth player Samuel Bangura, 18, are among 24 players called up by McKinstry to face Tunisia and Cape Verde.

Deen-Conteh will need clearance from Fifa to play, having already represented England at junior level.

The games will be McKinstry's first in charge of the Leone Stars.

Irishman McKinstry, 27, was a surprise appointment in April, replacing Sweden's Lars Olof Mattsson.

African stars had mixed luck in the FA Cup semi-finals at the weekend with Ivorian Arouna Kone helping Wigan triumph while a superb goal from Senegalese Demba Ba could not prevent Chelsea going out.

Kone burst clear of several defenders to create the first goal as Wigan took time off from an English Premier League relegation struggle to defeat second-tier Millwall 2-0 and earn a first FA Cup final appearance.

Ba scored with an acrobatic half-volley for Chelsea to halve a two-goal deficit against fellow giants Manchester City, but an equaliser eluded the title-holders at a packed Wembley stadium.

An unknown Irishman Jonathan Mckinstry has been installed as caretaker coach of Sierra Leone.

He replaces Sweden's Lars Olof Mattsson who resigned a few weeks ago.

Mckinstry's appointment came after a meeting between the Sierra Leone FA and officials from the sports ministry.

The Irishman - who has no previous coaching experience in Africa - will be in charge of the Leone Stars' remaining 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

According to the Sierra Leone FA, he will be considered for the job on a permanent basis if he does well against Tunisia, Cape Verde and Equatorial Guinea.

Swedish coach Lars Olof Mattsson has not ruled out taking another job in African football following his resignation from his post with Sierra Leone.

The 58-year-old confirmed to BBC Sport on Saturday that he had ended his time with the Leone Stars after two years in charge of the team.

While Mattsson revealed there had been issues with his working arrangement, pay and lack of team preparations, he admitted he was sad to leave the role and would be be open to offers to continue his employment elsewhere in Africa with another national team.

"I would be tempted, definitely, yes. I wouldn't rule it out," he said. "I've got some contacts here and there so I keep my eyes open and every door is open for the future.

The Sierra Leone coach Lars Olof Mattsson has quit his post after two years in charge of the team but there is confusion over his resignation.

The 58-year old Swedish manager claims he has already tendered his letter of resignation to both the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and the Sports ministry. But the two bodies say they have not received any resignation letter from him.

SLFA spokesman Sorie Ibrahim Sesay told BBC Sport as far as they are concerned Mattsson is the Leone Stars coach.

"We still consider Coach Mattsson as our coach because we are yet to receive any letter from him. We only read about his resignation from the Swedish press.

Several of the favourites in Africa’s qualifiers for the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil struggled on the third matchday of the group stage, now at the half-way point.

Morocco's loss in Tanzania was the biggest surprise, while 2012 African champions Zambia were held to a draw in Lesotho and Senegal and new African kings Nigeria were held at home. As only the ten group winners advance to the final round of qualifying, the dropped points will undoubtedly increase the pressure and the chances of a major shock moving forward.

The Super Eagles were expected to enjoy a bit of a walk in the park at home against their East African opponents, however, it turned out to be anything but as 20-year-old Kahata gave the visitors the lead when he scored direct from a free-kick.

Chelsea youngster Aziz Deen-Conteh has decided to play for his country of birth Sierra Leone and give up any chance he may have to play for England, where he has lived most of his life.

The 20-year-old left-back, who was raised in London and has a British passport, was among 20 players invited by the Leone Stars coach Lars Olof Mattson for the World Cup qualifying match against Tunisia on Saturday.

He made the trip to Tunis, trained with the team twice but did not feature in the 2-1 defeat because his Sierra Leone passport had expired - a fact the Sierra Leone Football Association only learned when the player arrived last Wednesday.

Tunisia have opened up a five point gap lead over Sierra Leone half way of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers after a 2-1 win over a defensive Leone Stars side at the Rades Olympic Stadium in Tunis in a group B match on Saturday.

Darragi Oussama opened the scores for the Carthage Eagles and Khazar Wahbi increased it to 2-0 before substitute got a consolation goal for Sierra Leone to register their first ever goal in Tunisian soil.

The Tunisians dominated the match especially in the first half but had to wait until the second period to get their goals. They created three clear chances in the first half but were denied by the Leone Stars goalie Christian caulker who made brilliant saves.

Sierra Leone marksman Kei Ansu Kamara has maintained his cool in the face of mounting pressure on him to deliver the goals in their 2014 World Cup qualifier in Tunisia on Saturday.

Expectations of a solid showing by Kamara are high in his country since he made a loan switch to English Premier League side Norwich City from US MLS club Sporting Kansas in the winter transfer window.

But Kamara says he can take the heat, although he placed more emphasis on the success of the team rather than his personal glory.

"I'm playing in one of the big leagues in the world and I know because of this the pressure is on me to deliver the goals that will defeat Tunisia on Saturday." Kamara told Sierraleoneonline.com.

Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland and Revenue Authority of Uganda had their CAF Champions League giantkilling dreams dashed at the weekend.

While Swallows improved on a previously shocking home record in the leading pan-African club competition to draw 0-0 with Zanaco of Zambia, they lost the preliminary round tie 3-2 on aggregate.

Revenue Authority also failed to score in front of their supporters with a second 0-0 deadlock against Coton Sport of Cameroon leading to a penalty shootout won 4-3 by the visitors.

Swallows, who conceded 12 goals at home in three previous Champions League games, created few chances in Lobomba and Zanaco came closest to ending the stalemate when Davies Mwape rattled the woodwork.