HARRISON, NJ – New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul has been called up to the Senegal National Team for its 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier against Cameroon on June 4 in Yaounde, Cameroon. As a result, he will be unavailable for selection this Saturday, as the Red Bulls host Columbus Crew on the same date.
Coundoul will be hoping to make his sixth appearance for his national side, which vaulted 11 places into 40th on FIFA’s international rankings this month. He was last called into the squad during the Red Bulls’ preseason, playing in one match. This season in MLS, Coundoul has started the majority of the Red Bulls’ games, manning the net in seven starts in which he has posted a team-leading three shutouts while allowing just six goals. The team has gone 3-2-2 with him between the posts.
Senegal beat Cameroon, ranked just nine places lower, by a 1-0 score line in Dakar in their last qualifying match, leaving Coundoul’s side with a table-topping nine points. Coundoul received his first call-up with Senegal in 2007 and his first cap against Mali in a 3-2 victory. His international highlight so far has been starting his side’s final African Nations Cup match against South Africa, which ended in a draw.
