{{short description|Sierra Leonean footballer}} {{other people}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mohamed Bangura | image = Mohamed Bangura (2015).jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Bangura during his third spell at AIK. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|7|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Kambia, Sierra Leone | height = {{height|meter=1.80}} | position = Striker | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2005 | youthclubs1 = FC Kallon | years1 = 2005–2010 |clubs1 = FC Kallon |caps1 = |goals1 = | years2 = 2010 |clubs2 = → IFK Värnamo (loan) |caps2 = 13 |goals2 = 12 | years3 = 2010–2011 |clubs3 = AIK |caps3 = 33 |goals3 = 13 | years4 = 2011–2014 |clubs4 = Celtic |caps4 = 11 |goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2012 |clubs5 = → AIK (loan) |caps5 = 10 |goals5 = 5 | years6 = 2013 |clubs6 = → IF Elfsborg (loan) |caps6 = 27 |goals6 = 7 | years7 = 2014 |clubs7 = İstanbul BB |caps7 = 8 |goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2015 |clubs8 = AIK |caps8 = 30 |goals8 = 8 | years9 = 2016 |clubs9 = Dalian Yifang |caps9 = 24 |goals9 = 3 | years10 = 2017 |clubs10 = Dalkurd FF |caps10 = 10 |goals10 = 1 | years11 = 2018 |clubs11 = Akropolis IF |caps11 = 14 |goals11 = 2 | nationalyears1 = 2010–2013 | nationalteam1 = Sierra Leone | nationalcaps1 = 18 | nationalgoals1 = 2<!-- When you update this parameter, please update the ntupdate parameter! --> | pcupdate = 31 March 2019 | ntupdate = 10 September 2013 }}
'''Mohamed Bangura''' (born 27 July 1989) is a Sierra Leonean professional footballer.
==Club career== ===IFK Värnamo=== On 19 March 2010, Swedish third tier side IFK Värnamo (coached by the former Sweden midfielder Jonas Thern) announced they had signed Bangura on loan for the forthcoming season.<ref>[http://www2.idrottonline.se/templates/NewsPage.aspx?id=453762] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401114217/http://www2.idrottonline.se/templates/NewsPage.aspx%3Fid%3D453762 |date=1 April 2019 }}</ref> At the Småland club Bangura made an immediate impact; when half of the season was played, Bangura had scored 12 goals in 13 league games, turning Värnamo into one of the division's top sides.<ref>http://www2.idrottonline.se/templates/Page.aspx?id=109519&epslanguage=sv {{dead link|date=January 2012}}</ref>
===AIK=== [[File:SamlarkungenMB.JPG|thumb|left|185px|Bangura training in his first spell at AIK.]]
On 19 July 2010, AIK announced that they had signed Bangura on a {{frac|3|1|2}}-year contract tying him to the club until the end of 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aikfotboll.se/Article.aspx?contentID=3047 |title=AIK Fotboll – AIK värvar Mohamed Bangura |publisher=Aikfotboll.se |date=19 July 2010 |accessdate=29 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819221827/http://www.aikfotboll.se/Article.aspx?contentID=3047 |archive-date=19 August 2010 }}</ref> It was made clear that AIK was not the only major Swedish side to have shown interest in signing Bangura. Örebro SK, at the time one of the top Allsvenskan teams, were also interested but decided to pass due to Bangura being injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://na.se/sporten/fotboll/inspark/1.898202-bangura-valde-aik-fore-osk |title=Bangura valde AIK före ÖSK – Inspark |language=sv |publisher=na.se |accessdate=29 January 2012}}</ref> AIK, on the other hand, had scouted Bangura thoroughly for a long time and wanted to make a quick deal. On 24 July 2010, Bangura made his Allsvenskan debut for AIK against Malmö FF away by coming in as a substitute in the 74th minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/match/?scr=result&fmid=1380898 |title=Matchinformation: Malmö FF – AIK |publisher=Svenskfotboll.se |date=24 July 2010 |accessdate=29 January 2012}}</ref> On 28 July, Bangura was in the starting eleven in AIK's next fixture, the UEFA Champions League qualifier at home against Rosenborg BK. The game ended with a 0–1 defeat for AIK but Bangura received much praise for his performance in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/sverige/allsvenskan/aik/article7541086.ab |title=Nye Bangura var bäst i Gnaget | AIK | Allsvenskan | Sverige | Fotboll | Sportbladet | Aftonbladet |publisher=Aftonbladet.se |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 January 2012}}</ref> On 8 August 2010, Bangura scored his first two goals in AIK's 2–1 victory over IF Brommapojkarna. Two months after signing for the club, Egyptian side Al Ahly had a 4 million{{Clarify|reason=which currency|date=April 2016}} bid to sign Bangura turned down.<ref>{{cite news|title=AIK turned down bids for Bangura|trans-title=AIK nobbade bud på Bangura|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/aik-nobbade-bud-pa-bangura/|publisher=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv|date=21 September 2010|access-date=7 August 2013}}</ref> At the end of the season, AIK went on to finish in eleventh place and Bangura finished his first half-season at the club with six goals in thirteen appearances.
In the 2011 season, Bangura formed a striking partnership with new signing Teteh Bangura and together, they formed a line of attack in number of games. Then, on 17 April 2011, Bangura scored twice in a match with a 2–2 draw against Elfsborg and when they met again on 31 July 2011, the match proved to be a last partnership with both Banguras, as they moved to a new club. As they formed a partnership, the Banguras scored the combination of twenty-two goals in the league. In the summer transfer window, Bangura attracted interests from clubs around Europe like Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow<ref>{{cite news|title="Locomotive" is interested striker Sierra Leone|trans-title="Локомотив" интересуется форвардом сборной Сьерра-Леоне|url=http://www.sports.ru/football/107017809.html|publisher=Sports.ru|language=ru|date=30 June 2011|accessdate=7 August 2013}}</ref> and Club Brugge.<ref>{{cite news|title=AIK snobs bid for Bangura|trans-title=AIK nobbar bud på Bangura|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/aik-nobbar-bud-pa-bangura/|publisher=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv|date=16 August 2011|access-date=7 August 2013}}</ref>
===Celtic=== On 30 August 2011, Bangura signed a four-year deal with Celtic for a fee of around £2.2million. He is the first Sierra Leonean to play for Celtic.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Old-Firm-facts.6838257.jp| title = Old Firm facts| publisher = The Scotsman| date = 18 September 2011| accessdate = 23 September 2011}}</ref> He was recommended to Celtic by former striker and fan favourite Henrik Larsson.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1482|title = Delight as Mohamed Bangura signs for Celtic|publisher = Celtic FC|date = 30 August 2011|accessdate = 30 August 2011|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120405031836/http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1482|archive-date = 5 April 2012}}</ref> Bangura made his Celtic debut for Celtic on 10 September. Coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Anthony Stokes in a 4–0 victory against Motherwell at Celtic Park.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14773073| title = Celtic 4–0 Motherwell| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 10 September 2011| access-date = 23 September 2011}}</ref> Bangura then made his next appearance against Atlético Madrid in the Europa League group stage, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/14941534.stm | title = Atlético Madrid 2–0 Celtic| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 15 September 2011| access-date = 19 September 2011}}</ref> His first start for the club came on 29 September in a 1–1 draw with Italian side Udinese.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15014638| title = Celtic 1–1 Udinese| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 29 September 2011| access-date = 29 September 2011}}</ref> He endured a nightmare start at Celtic after failing to hit a single first-team goal and falling out of favour as manager Neil Lennon preferred strikers Gary Hooper, Anthony Stokes and Georgios Samaras in the first team.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2012/01/26/celtic-striker-mohamed-bangura-i-ll-prove-i-m-not-a-2m-dud-86908-23720794/| title = Celtic striker Mohamed Bangura: I'll prove I'm not a £2m dud| publisher = Daily Record| date = 26 January 2012| accessdate = 1 April 2012}}</ref> It went from bad to worse for Bangura when he suffered a knee injury which kept him out for three months despite the fact he did not require surgery, manager Neil Lennon admitted that Bangura had not responded well to treatment and an operation may be required to cure the problem.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15792231| title = Celtic striker Mohamed Bangura may need surgery on knee| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 18 November 2011| access-date = 1 April 2012}}</ref> After 3 months recuperating, Bangura was once again ruled out for 16 weeks and missed the remainder of the season. Manager Neil Lennon said of the injury: "He had a scan and it revealed he needed surgery. The surgery was a success and he is coming back up today. But he is going to be out for 12–16 weeks. It's unfortunate for him. It was possibly the reason why he hasn't recaptured his form. Maybe it was hampering him a bit."<ref>{{cite news | url = http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/296154-celtic-striker-mo-bangura-out-for-12-weeks/| title = Celtic striker Mohamed Bangura out for the season| publisher = STV Sport| date = 3 February 2012| accessdate = 1 April 2012}}</ref> Bangura soon left Celtic and wouldn't be back until December 2012, returning to AIK in the meantime.<ref name="Celtic: Mo Bangura sent back to AIK Solna on loan">{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/mobile/football/19401728?SThisFB/| title = Celtic: Mo Bangura sent back to AIK Solna on loan| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 28 August 2012| accessdate = 30 August 2012}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Following the conclusion of his subsequent loan spell at Elfsborg, Lennon stated that his frustration and displeasure over Bangura's participation in competitive matches for Elfsborg against Celtic in Champions League qualifying was water under the bridge.<ref>{{cite news|title=Neil Lennon forgives Mo Bangura for playing against Celtic during Elfsborg loan deal|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neil-lennon-forgives-mo-bangura-2985555?|publisher=Daily Record|date=4 January 2014|accessdate=5 January 2014}}</ref>
His contract with Celtic was terminated by mutual consent on 31 January 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/9144073/transfer-news-celtic-and-expensive-flop-mohamed-bangura-have-parted-company |title=Transfer News: Celtic and expensive flop Mohamed Bangura have parted company |publisher=Sky Sports |accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref>
===Loan to Swedish Clubs=== In late August 2012, he once again joined AIK, this time on loan until the end of 2012.<ref name="Celtic: Mo Bangura sent back to AIK Solna on loan"/> After the move, Bangura said returning to the club could hopefully revive his deadly reputation and he believed going back to Sweden would be a good boost for his career.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bangura pleased by AIK loan move|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19660885|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 September 2012|access-date=7 August 2013}}</ref>
At the beginning of January 2013, Bangura joined Swedish 2012 champions Elfsborg on a 1-year loan from Celtic, in a new venture for the club's forthcoming Champions League qualification campaign. The estimated cost for Bangura's loan is to be £1 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swedish champions Elfsborg take a loan of Celtic striker Mo Bangura|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/swedish-champions-elfsborg-take-a-loan-1554154|publisher=Daily Record|date=25 January 2013|accessdate=7 August 2013}}</ref> At Elfsborg, Bangura started to improve his goalscoring form, unlike his time at AIK, including a brace in a 6–0 win over Brommapojkarna on 23 May 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bojan Djordjic: Male ashamed|trans-title=Bojan Djordjic: Man skäms|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/bojan-djordjic-man-skams/|publisher=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv|date=23 May 2013|access-date=7 August 2013}}</ref>
On 31 July 2013, in a buildup to a match against his parent club in the Third qualifying round of the Champions League, Manager Neil Lennon disapproved of the club letting Bangura playing against them after advising him not to play. In response, Manager Bo Johansson, on the other hand, disagrees with Lennon and described his comments "unacceptable and scandalous" and will let him play in both legs.<ref>{{cite news|title=Elfsborg fury as Neil Lennon tells the Swedish club: Don't play Mo Bangura in Champions League showdown|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/elfsborg-fury-neil-lennon-tells-2068547|publisher=Daily Record|date=20 July 2013|accessdate=7 August 2013}}</ref> Joe Ledley made a statement to Bangura, warning him never come back to Celtic if Elfsborg eliminate Celtic from the Champions League and expressed his opinion on Bangura, that ''"I don't think it would be the best move for him [Bangura]."''<ref>{{cite news|title=Celtic ace Joe Ledley warns on-loan Mo Bangura: Don't come back if you knock us out of the Champions League|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-ace-joe-ledley-warns-2103472|publisher=Daily Record|date=30 July 2013|accessdate=7 August 2013}}</ref> Eventually, Bangura played the match against his parent club and ended up losing 1–0.
thumb|right|185px|Bangura playing in the Turkish League, March 2014.
===İstanbul Başakşehir === On 3 February 2014, Bangura joined Turkish second-tier league side İstanbul BB on a two-and-a-half-year deal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mo Bangura joins Turkish second tier club Istanbul BB|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26032500|publisher=BBC Sport|work=Mohamed Fajah Barrie|date=4 February 2014|accessdate=4 February 2014}}</ref>
=== AIK (third spell) === On 5 December 2014, AIK held a press conference to announce the return of Bangura. Having gone through some unsuccessful recent years in his career, Bangura trained with AIK for a while before he signed a two-year deal with an option for a third year.<ref>http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/dinklubb/allsvenskan/aik/article19966131.ah {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
=== Dalian Yifang === On 22 December 2015, Bangura transferred to China League One side Dalian Yifang.<ref>[http://sports.sohu.com/20151222/n432149977.shtml 大连一方续约主帅斯塔勒 瑞超两大锋霸正式加盟] at sports.sohu.com 2015-12-22 Retrieved 2015-12-22</ref> The team ended the 3-year contract with him at the end of the season, mostly due to his lack of performance during the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.sohu.com/20170102/n477576659.shtml|title=大连一方提前与班古拉解除合同|publisher=Sohu Sports|date=2 January 2017|accessdate=3 January 2017}}</ref>
=== Dalkurd === On 11 January 2017, Bangura joined Dalkurd in Superettan on a one-year deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dalkurd.se/2017/01/11/dalkurd-varvar-mohamed-bangura/|title=Dalkurd värvar Mohamed Bangura|publisher=Dalkurd FF|date=11 January 2017|accessdate=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021220421/https://dalkurd.se/2017/01/11/dalkurd-varvar-mohamed-bangura/|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made 10 appearances in the league, scoring once,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/superettan/person/?playerid=6907|title=Mohamed Bangura|publisher=Svensk Fotboll|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> before leaving at the end of the year following the club's promotion to the top tier. Bangura was not offered a new contract by Dalkurd.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dalkurd.se/2017/11/23/tva-spelare-lamnar-dalkurd/|title=Två spelare lämnar Dalkurd|publisher=Dalkurd FF|date=23 November 2017|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref>
==International== Bangura made his international debut on 5 September 2010, in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Egypt which ended in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2010/09/05/2104725/egypt-1-1-sierra-leone-impressive-leone-stars-hold-african |title=Egypt 1–1 Sierra Leone: Impressive Leone Stars Hold African Champions in Cairo |work=Goal.com |date=5 September 2010 |accessdate=14 January 2012 }}</ref>
==Personal life== In the Autumn of 2010, Bangura was to become a father for the first time. However, tragedy struck and the child died during birth.<ref>{{cite web |author=Foto: Andreas L Eriksson |url=http://fotboll.expressen.se/allsvenskan/1.2159737/bangura-i-sorg-spelade-inte-derbyt |title=Bangura i sorg – spelade inte derbyt – Allsvenskan – Allt om allsvenskan! |publisher=Fotboll.expressen.se |accessdate=29 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007171941/http://fotboll.expressen.se/allsvenskan/1.2159737/bangura-i-sorg-spelade-inte-derbyt |archive-date=7 October 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career statistics==
{{updated|7 June 2017}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|League !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total |- !Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="3"|AIK |rowspan="3" |Allsvenskan |2010 |12||6||colspan="4"|—||4||1||16||7 |- |2011 |19||7||1||0||colspan="4"|—||19||7 |- !Total !31!!13!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!4!!1!!35!!14 |- | rowspan="3"|Celtic |rowspan="3" |SPL |2011–12 |10||0||0||0||1||0||4||0||15||0 |- |2012–13 |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- !Total !11!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!4!!0!!16!!0 |- | rowspan="2"|AIK (loan) |rowspan="2" |Allsvenskan |2012 |10||4||0||0||colspan="2"|—||6||1||16||5 |- !Total !10!!4!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!6!!1!!16!!5 |- | rowspan="2"|Elfsborg (loan) |rowspan="2" |Allsvenskan |2013 |27||7||0||0||colspan="2"|—||8||1||35||8 |- !Total !27!!7!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!8!!1!!35!!8 |- | rowspan="2"|İstanbul BB |rowspan="2" |TFF First League |2013–14 |8||0||colspan="6"|—||8||0 |- !Total !8!!0!!colspan="6"|—!!8!!0 |- | rowspan="2"|AIK |rowspan="2" |Allsvenskan |2015 |30||8||3||1||colspan="2"|—||5||1||35||8 |- !Total !30!!8!!3!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!5!!1!!35!!8 |- | rowspan="2"|Dalian Yifang |rowspan="2" |China League One |2016 |24||3||1||1||colspan="4"|—||25||4 |- !Total !24!!3!!1!!1!!colspan="4"|—!!25!!4 |- | rowspan="2"|Dalkurd |rowspan="2" |Superettan |2017 |10||1||3||1||colspan="4"|—||13||2 |- !Total !10!!1!!3!!1!!colspan="4"|—!!13!!2 |- !colspan="3"|Career Total !151!!36!!8!!3!!1!!0!!27!!4!!187!!43 |}
== Honours == * Sierra Leone Player of the Year: 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sierraleonefootball.com/index.php/features/704-poborsky-bangura-named-sierra-leone-best-player-of-the-year-2011 |title=Poborsky Bangura named Sierra Leone best player of the year 2011 |author=Mohamed Fajah Barrie |work=SierraLeoneFootball.com |accessdate=23 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202052531/http://sierraleonefootball.com/index.php/features/704-poborsky-bangura-named-sierra-leone-best-player-of-the-year-2011 |archive-date=2 February 2013 }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}} [http://footballsierraleone.net/2017/12/07/mohamed-bangura-leaves-allsvenskan-club-dalkurd-ff/ Mohamed Bangura leaves Allsvenskan club Dalkurd FF]
== External links == * {{CelticFC.net|id=player.php?id=75|title=Mohamed Bangura|archive=20130917090144}} * {{NFT player|id=39957}} * {{Soccerway|mohammed-bangura/127558}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bangura, Mohamed}} Category:1989 births Category:People from Kambia District Category:Dalkurd FF players Category:AIK Fotboll players Category:Allsvenskan players Category:Akropolis IF players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:China League One players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China Category:F.C. Kallon players Category:IFK Värnamo players Category:Celtic F.C. players Category:İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. players Category:Dalian Professional F.C. players Category:Living people Category:Sierra Leone men's international footballers Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate men's footballers Category:Sierra Leonean men's footballers Category:Superettan players Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Sweden Category:IF Elfsborg players Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:TFF 1. Lig players