Electrical connector assembly

An electrical connector assembly for mating with a mating connector, said electrical connector assembly comprising:

• a housing having spaced apart sidewalls;
• a first slide slideably supported in said housing and spaced inwardly from one of said sidewalls;
• a second slide slideably supported in said housing and spaced inwardly from another of said sidewalls;
• said first slide and said second slide each including at least one mating slot adapted to receive a mating portion of said mating connector and slideable with respect to said housing between a pre-staged position where said electrical connector assembly is removable from said mating connector and an engaged position where said electrical connector assembly is locked to said mating connector;
• a slide assist lever pivotally interconnected with said housing and each of said slides and being operable to move said slides between said pre-staged position and said engaged position, wherein recesses are formed in said housing with said slides when said slides are in said engaged position;
• and
• an environmental cover positionable to substantially prevent debris from entering said recesses, said environmental cover including a plate abutting said housing and coving said recesses when said environmental cover is positioned to substantially prevent debris from entering said recesses.