Seeing double! The twins who idolised Man Utd stars

During their childhood six-a-side games in Sierra Leone, twin brothers Alhassan and Alusine Koroma would dream of emulating Brazilian footballers.

But rather than the likes of Ronaldo or Kaka, it was two lesser-known defenders they identified with most.

"We grew up admiring Manchester United’s Da Silva brothers," Alhassan and Alusine, now 24, told BBC Sport Africa, explaining the kinship they felt with their fellow identical twins, Fabio and Rafael.

"People used to compare us with them," Alhassan continued.

"Because we liked the comparison we used to play as full-backs wearing jersey numbers 2 and 3.

"I would put on the number 3 and was nicknamed Fabio and Alusine was called Rafael and used to wear the number 2."

The Da Silvas moved to the Premier League aged 18 in 2008 and stayed at Old Trafford for six and seven years respectively.

"We wanted to be like them. We saw them as a source of inspiration and motivation. We promised ourselves to follow their footsteps of playing together as well as excelling in our careers."

The Koroma brothers eventually shifted positions when they joined Marampa Stars, a second-tier side, after a brief spell with the now-defunct Craig Bellamy academy on the outskirts of the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown.

Alusine moved into midfield while Alhassan became a left winger.

But they still managed to achieve their goals, turning out together for clubs in their homeland and Spain, and becoming the first twins to represent the Leone Stars.

Although they now play for different clubs on separate continents, the brothers retain a deep connection and an unwavering support for one another.

That mutual support was necessary during their teenage years when their parents, who have always backed their football dreams, divorced.

While living with their father they were forced to use their initiative on the streets of Freetown to make ends meet.

"Things were hard for us at some points," Alusine said.

"My brother and I decided to do something just to survive while going to school.

"We were fetching water, putting it into jerrycans and selling it to people in our community. We were also going around collecting used [scrap] iron and sold it."

According to Alhassan, their bond has been key to their football careers - which were largely spent together until Alhassan moved to a Qatari club last year.

"We love each other so much that we never wanted to be separated," he explained.

"When a Spanish club, Real Balompedica Linense, wanted to sign me in 2019 I told them that I would only accept their offer on the condition that they also signed my twin brother.

"They told me to sign the contract and assured me that my brother would join me in Spain a few months later - which he did."

Key moments in their careers have been shared, with the brothers making their first senior appearances, top-flight bows and international debuts in the same games.

Years of playing together has forged an innate understanding on the pitch.

"I can read his mind and he can read mine," insisted Alusine.

"When I have the ball my brother knows what I’ll do with it and what he should do, so the first person I look out for to give a pass is him.

"We’re protective of each other too. When one is fouled by an opponent the other gets concerned.

"We’ve been fighting for each other since childhood and the pitch is not an exception."

The striking resemblance between Alhassan and Alusine has led to cases of mistaken identity.

"I remember getting into a fight with a boy over the fetching of water in the community we were living in Freetown when we were teenagers," Alhassan said.

"When I returned home afterwards, the boy came to our house for another round. Mistaking my twin for me, he hit him in the face."

It is easier to distinguish the pair on the pitch because Alusine is right-footed while Alhassan is a left-footer. The brothers also crop their hair slightly differently.

As well as their spell with Linense in Spain's fourth tier, the brothers won the Sierra Leone Premier League title playing together for East End Lions in 2019, during what was an unbeaten campaign.

Their international debuts came in a 4-0 friendly defeat by Iran in 2018 and they have gone on to feature a further seven times together for their country.

Yet neither brother made the final squad for the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with Alhassan forced to withdraw a day before the tournament started because of injury.

The West Africans failed to qualify for the 2023 finals but are now bidding to reach the 2025 edition in Morocco next year, with a crucial double-header against Ivory Coast over the next seven days.

Alusine says it is "a blessing" to be international footballers, but the brothers hope to help Sierra Leone return to the continental showpiece and potentially reach a first ever Fifa World Cup finals.

"We’re happy and proud to be the first twin brothers to play for Leone Stars," Alusine added.

"It means a lot for both of us and our families. We’ll always give our best for our country.

"Our objective is to help Leone Stars qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup finals. It’ll be an honour to do that."