The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will this week be in Benin City to battle Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a returnee striker based in United States of America, where he is a goals’ scoring sensation in Major League Soccer (MLS),megasportsarena.com reports.
This is sequel to reports out of Freetown indicating that Minnesota United of USA veteran, Kei Kamara has accepted an invitation from Sierra Leone’s coach for him to step out of international retirement in time for Friday’s first leg at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The Leone Stars will then host the Super Eagles four days later in Freetown, where they will be banking to a large extent on the efficacy of Kamara, who has also previously played for Norwich City and Middlesbrough of England, but initially announced his international retirement on the eve of Sierra Leone’s opening 2021 qualifier against Lesotho in Freetown which ended 1-1.
Kamara, who is currently the fifth all-time leading goal scorer in MLS, has now resumed his international career for the second time, as he initially took a break from the national team in October 2015, when he alleged that Leone Stars players were not respected and that they been treated unfairly.
However, Sierra Leone soccer fans are now happy that they will have the services of Kamara against Nigeria, after he stepped out of international retirement to re-join his country’s team ahead of their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations double-qualifiers in Benin City on Friday and four days later in Freetown.
Kamara. who is one of 16 foreign-based players invited by Leone Stars coach, John Keister, declared: “A year ago I made the decision to step away from our national team, and it was a decision I made with good intentions.
“During this year of being on the outside watching and listening, I can tell you it has not been easy. In the past few months I have heard some wonderful conversations with newly appointed head coach John Keister about his vision for the national team, and they’re remarkable.
“I’m very honoured to be considered by Coach Keister as someone that could impact the team. To be included on the roster for the upcoming games is an invitation I have accepted.
“I’m very excited to wave the green, white and blue flag and will proudly represent my country. I’ll do what I have always done- play my heart out for mama Sierra Leone. I look forward to joining the team in the quest for qualification.”
