Mustapha Bundu
{{Short description|Sierra Leonean footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| image = Bundu Sierra Leone (cropped).jpg
| caption = Bundu in 2022
| name = Mustapha Bundu
| fullname = Mustapha Bundu Shong Hames
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|2|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Freetown, Sierra Leone
| height = 1.88 m
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Plymouth Argyle
| clubnumber = 15
| youthyears1 = 2010-2014
| youthclubs1 = Craig Bellamy Academy
| youthyears2 = 2014-2016
| youthclubs2 = Hartpury College
| years1 = 2015
| clubs1 = Newquay
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2015–2016
| clubs2 = Hereford
| caps2 = 17
| goals2 = 17
| years3 = 2016–2020
| clubs3 = AGF
| caps3 = 101
| goals3 = 17
| years4 = 2020–2023
| clubs4 = Anderlecht
| caps4 = 10
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2021
| clubs5 = → Copenhagen (loan)
| caps5 = 14
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2021–2022
| clubs6 = → AGF (loan)
| caps6 = 22
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2022–2023
| clubs7 = → Andorra (loan)
| caps7 = 28
| goals7 = 3
| years8 = 2023–
| clubs8 = Plymouth Argyle
| caps8 = 57
| goals8 = 10
| nationalyears1 = 2019–
| nationalteam1 = Sierra Leone
| nationalcaps1 = 22
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| club-update = 01:05, 20 March 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 18:50, 20 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Mustapha Bundu Shong Hames (born 28 February 1997) is a Sierra Leonean professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|PlymoutA}} club Plymouth Argyle and the Sierra Leone national team.{{Soccerway|mustapha-bundu/465910|access-date=19 March 2025}}
Born in Freetown, Bundu started playing youth football for the Craig Bellamy Academy before moving to the United Kingdom to play for Hartpury College. He then went on to appear for lower league sides Newquay and Hereford. In 2016, Bundu signed for Danish Superliga club AGF after a successful trial. After growing out to become an important player for the first team, he transferred to Anderlecht in 2020. He signed with Plymouth Argyle in 2023.
After multiple call-ups for the Sierra Leone national team without making an appearance, Bundu made his international debut as a substitute on 4 September 2019, in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Liberia.{{Cite web |title=Liberia 3-1 Sierra Leone (Sep 4, 2019) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/554682 |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
Club career
=Early career=
As a native of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Bundu spent his youth football playing in the now defunct Craig Bellamy Academy, before obtaining a student visa to study at Hartpury College to further pursue his football career.{{cite web|url=http://thesetpieces.com/world-football/mustapha-bundus-journey-war-torn-sierra-leone-wembley/|publisher=thesetpieces.com|title=Mustapha Bundu's journey from war-torn Sierra Leone to Wembley - The Set Pieces|date=23 May 2016|accessdate=31 October 2016}}
He graduated from Hartpury College in 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.hudl.com/athlete/6526978/mustapha-bundu|publisher=hudl.com|title=Mustapha Bundu - Hudl|accessdate=31 October 2016}} scoring 18 goals in six outings in the English Schools' FA Cup.
=Hereford=
Whilst visiting a friend, he made a single appearance for Newquay on 23 August 2015, in a 2–2 draw against Ivybridge Town in the South West Peninsula League, netting two goals in less than 30 minutes as a substitute.{{Cite web |date=28 August 2015 |title=Town held by Cornish |url=http://www.dartmouth-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=1100&headline=Town%20held%20by%20Cornish§ionIs=sport&searchyear=2015 |access-date=3 July 2021 |website=Dartmouth Chronicle |language=en}} Newquay manager Sash Wheatman acclaimed him as "the best player he's had the privilege of watching at this level of football", adding "it was like bringing on Ronaldo on or Gareth Bale – he was streets ahead".{{Cite web |url=http://www.xtratimewest.co.uk/football/hartpury-college-striking-sensation-mustapha-bundu-shoots-premier-league |title=Hartpury College striking sensation Mustapha Bundu shoots for the Premier League | Xtratimewest |access-date=16 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317063200/http://www.xtratimewest.co.uk/football/hartpury-college-striking-sensation-mustapha-bundu-shoots-premier-league |archive-date=17 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}
Bundu spent a season at newly-formed Midland League Premier Division club Hereford, winning three trophies and reaching the 2016 FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium, where he featured as a substitute. Work authorisation restrictions only allowed him to ply his trade at a club no higher than step five of the English non-league pyramid, the ninth tier overall in the English football league system, which forced him to leave Hereford as they had been promoted to step four (tier eight). He returned briefly to spectate one of their games, a 6–0 defeat of Bridgwater Town in the Southern League Division One South & West.{{Cite web|url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/sport/14682768.VIDEO__Bundu_on_what_playing_for_Hereford_FC_meant_for_him/|title=VIDEO: Bundu on what playing for Hereford FC meant for him|website=Hereford Times|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018}}
=AGF=
Bundu went on a trial with Danish Superliga club AGF in early August 2016.[http://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/agf-tester-angriber/ AGF tester angriber]‚ bold.dk, 2 August 2016 After a successful trial, he signed a contract with the club on 31 August 2016.[http://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/agf-skriver-med-bundu/ AGF skriver med Bundu]‚ bold.dk, 31 August 2016
In an away defeat to Brøndby IF, he made his Superliga debut as a substitute on 23 October 2016. He came on the pitch in the 78th minute, replacing Martin Spelmann.{{cite web|url=http://footballsierraleone.net/2016/10/23/mustapha-bundu-makes-first-agf-aarhus-appearance-in-away-defeat/|publisher=footballsierraleone.net|title=Football Sierra Leone | Mustapha Bundu makes first AGF Aarhus appearance in away defeat|date=23 October 2016|accessdate=31 October 2016}} In December 2016, Bundu extended his contract until 2021.[http://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/agf-forlaenger-med-fire-mand/ AGF forlænger med fire mand]‚ bold.dk, 5 December 2016
Bundu had his breakout season in 2019–20, scoring eight goals in the first 20 league matches of the season, and being named Superliga Player of the Month for September 2019. He finished the season with 10 goals in 30 total appearances, as he helped AGF finish in third place in the Superliga-table; the club's first top-three finish in 23 years.{{cite web |title=AGF får bronze trods nederlag til Brøndby |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/agf-faar-bronze-trods-nederlag-til-broendby |website=dr.dk |publisher=Danmarks Radio |accessdate=8 August 2020 |date=26 July 2020}} Bundu's season would, however, be hampered in the last month by contracting COVID-19 which kept him out for the last few games of the season.{{cite web |last1=Calcoen |first1=Pieter-Jan |date=7 August 2020 |title=Bundu, met de B van Bellamy, tekent voor vier jaar: nieuwste Anderlecht-aanwinst op z'n 17de op negende niveau in Engeland |url=https://www.hln.be/sport/voetbal/belgisch-voetbal/bundu-met-de-b-van-bellamy-tekent-voor-vier-jaar-nieuwste-anderlecht-aanwinst-op-z-n-17de-op-negende-niveau-in-engeland~a38b7eb7/ |accessdate=8 August 2020 |website=hln.be |publisher=Het Laatste Nieuws}}{{cite web |last1=Leer Scharnberg |first1=Martin |last2=Højris Schmidt |first2=Lasse |last3=Messer |first3=Anders Keld |title=AGF-angriber testet positiv for corona: Ude resten af sæsonen |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/agf-angriber-testet-positiv-corona-ude-resten-af-saesonen |website=dr.dk |publisher=Danmarks Radio |accessdate=8 August 2020 |date=22 July 2020}}
=Anderlecht=
On 7 August 2020, Bundu joined Belgian club Anderlecht on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee, believed to be between DKK 25–30 million, making him the most expensive sale in the history of AGF.{{cite web |last1=Elkjær |first1=Kenneth |title=Officielt: Bundu er solgt i historisk stor handel |url=https://www.tv2ostjylland.dk/aarhus/officielt-bundu-er-solgt |website=tv2ostjylland.dk |publisher=TV 2/Østjylland |accessdate=8 August 2020 |date=7 August 2020}}
Playing only nine games for Anderlecht, Bundu decided to go out on loan and returned to Denmark, signing a loan deal with Copenhagen for the rest of the season with an option to buy.[https://www.fck.dk/nyhed/bundu-klar-fc-koebenhavn BUNDU KLAR FOR F.C. KØBENHAVN], fck.dk, 26 January 2021 On 1 September 2021, Bundu returned to AGF on loan for the rest of the season.[https://www.agf.dk/nyheds-artikler/2021/august/bundu-vender-hjem-til-agf/ BUNDU VENDER HJEM TIL AGF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026071611/https://www.agf.dk/nyheds-artikler/2021/august/bundu-vender-hjem-til-agf/ |date=26 October 2021 }}, agf.dk, 31 August 2021
On 1 September 2022, Bundu joined Segunda División club FC Andorra on a one-year loan deal, making his debut in a 1–1 draw against Mirandés.{{cite web |date=1 September 2022 |title=Mustapha Bundu, una bala per a l'atac tricolor |trans-title=Mustapha Bundu, a bullet to the tricolour attack |url=https://www.fcandorra.com/mustapha-bundu-una-bala-per-a-latac-tricolor/ |accessdate=2 September 2022 |publisher=FC Andorra |language=ca}} While at Andorra, he became their first foreign player to receive an international call-up,{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Bundu, called up for Sierra Leone national team |url=https://www.fcandorra.com/en/news/bundu-convocat-amb-la-seleccio-de-sierra-leone |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=FC Andorra |language=en}} while also winning the 2022–23 Copa Catalunya.{{Cite web |last=Suelves |first=Marc Bernad |date=2023-02-15 |title=Bakis sale al rescate del Andorra y le da la Copa Catalunya |url=https://as.com/futbol/bakis-sale-al-rescate-del-andorra-y-le-da-la-copa-catalunya-n/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Diario AS |language=es}}
=Plymouth Argyle=
On 1 September 2023, deadline day of England's summer transfer window, Bundu returned to England, signing a two-year deal with EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle.{{Cite news |title=Argyle sign Sierra Leone striker from Anderlecht |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66691021 |access-date=2023-09-02}} His visa application meant he could not enter the UK until 13 September, the day after which he trained for the first time at his new club.{{Cite web |last=Errington |first=Chris |date=2023-09-14 |title=Mustapha Bundu takes part in first Argyle training session |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/mustapha-bundu-takes-part-first-8744868 |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}} He made his debut for the club on 23 September as an 87th-minute substitute in a 6–2 EFL Championship victory over Norwich City, and assisted a 97th-minute goal.{{Cite news |title=Plymouth hit six in impressive win over Norwich |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66828504 |access-date=2023-10-03}} He scored his first goal in his first league start for the club on 25 October, a first-half free-kick in a 3–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday.{{Cite news |last=Pilnick |first=Brent |date=2023-10-25 |title=Plymouth inflict more pain on struggling Wednesday |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67141935 |access-date=2023-10-26}}
International career
Bundu received his first international call-up for Sierra Leone in August 2018, being included in a 35-man provisional squad for a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45296689|title=Bellamy academy graduate Mustapha Bundu gets Sierra Leone call-up|date=24 August 2018|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=28 August 2019|first=Mohamed Fajah|last=Barrie}} However, he did not make the final 23-man squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45332680|title=Sierra Leone coach explains Bellamy graduate Bundu's absence|date=28 August 2018|website=BBC Sport|access-date=28 August 2019|first=Mohamed Fajah|last=Barrie}} He made his debut in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Liberia on 4 September 2019, which ended in a 3–1 defeat.{{cite web |url=https://www.agf.dk/klubben/nyhedsarkiv/2019/september/landsholdsdebut-til-mustapha-bundu/ |title=Landsholdsdebut til Mustapha Bundu - AGF Fodbold |website=www.agf.dk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014011958/https://www.agf.dk/klubben/nyhedsarkiv/2019/september/landsholdsdebut-til-mustapha-bundu/ |archive-date=2019-10-14}} He scored his first goal for his country on 13 November 2020, in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria.{{Cite news |last=Gleeson |first=Mark |date=2020-11-13 |title=Sierra Leone stage four-goal comeback to hold Nigeria |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-africa-nations-idUKKBN27T2XN |access-date=2023-09-14}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 15 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{Efn|Includes Danish Cup, Copa del Rey, FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{Efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
!Apps !Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Newquay
|1 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Hereford
|Midland League{{Break}}Premier Division |17 | 17 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11{{Efn|Eight appearances, five goals in FA Vase; three appearances, two goals in Midland Football League Cup}} | 7 | 28 | 24 | |||
| rowspan="5"|AGF
|12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18
|Danish Superliga |31 | 4 | 2 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 6 | |||
| 2018–19
|Danish Superliga |31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 4 | |||
| 2019–20
|Danish Superliga |27 | 8 | 3 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 10 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!101 | 17 | 8 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 109 | 21 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Anderlecht
|9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|Belgian First Division A |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{Efn|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League|name=eurconlge}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | ||
| Copenhagen (loan)
|Danish Superliga |14 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 1 | ||||
| AGF (loan)
|Danish Superliga |22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 3 | |||
| Andorra (loan)
|28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{Efn|Appearance(s) in Copa Catalunya|name=copcat}} | 0 | 31 | 3 | ||
| rowspan="3" |Plymouth Argyle
|27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 3 | |||
| 2024–25
|Championship |29 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 34 | 7 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!56 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 62 | 10 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!249 | 52 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 279 | 64 |
{{notelist}}
= International =
{{Updated|match played 20 March 2025|{{NFT player |id=75204 |name=Mustapha Bundu |access-date=14 September 2023}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="7"|Sierra Leone
|2019 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total||22||4 |
:Sierra Leone score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bundu goal
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Mustapha Bundu | |||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !Cap ! scope="col" |Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1 | 13 November 2020 | Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Nigeria | style="text-align:center"|4 | {{fb|NGA}} | style="text-align:center"|3–4 | style="text-align:center" |4–4 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|2 | 22 March 2023 | Stade Adrar, Agadir, Morocco | style="text-align:center"|12 | {{fb|STP}} | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | style="text-align:center" |2–2 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|3 | 18 June 2023 | Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Paynesville, Liberia | style="text-align:center"|14 | {{fb|NGR}} | style="text-align:center"|1–2 | style="text-align:center"|2–3 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|4 | 20 March 2025 | Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Paynesville, Liberia | style="text-align:center"|22 | {{fb|GNB}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|3–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Soccerway|465910}}
- {{NFT player}}
{{Plymouth Argyle F.C. squad}}
{{Sierra Leone squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bundu, Mustapha}}
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Sierra Leonean men's footballers
Category:Sierra Leone men's international footballers
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Freetown
Category:Alumni of Hartpury College
Category:Hereford F.C. players
Category:Newquay A.F.C. players
Category:Aarhus Gymnastikforening players
Category:R.S.C. Anderlecht players
Category:F.C. Copenhagen players
Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players
Category:Danish Superliga players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Andorra
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Denmark
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players