Kamara and Sierra Leone Advance

photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson

In the biggest game of this international break for any KC player, Kei Kamara and Sierra Leone took on Sao Tome and Principe in a must win African Cup of Nations qualifier.  Sierra Leone lost the first leg away 2-1 and fell behind 1-0 very early today in the home leg.  Facing the need to score 2 to at least force extra time, Sierra Leone came alive after the goal.  Kei Kamara scored to tie the game in the 17th.  The goal was Kamara's first for his country.  Teteh Bangura made it 2-1 shortly after, tying the series at 3-3 on aggregate.  In the 30th, Kamara got his brace and put the Leone Stars up 3-1 on the day and 4-3 on aggregate.  Before the half time whistle, Bangura scored his second to make it 4-1.  Sierra Leone cruised into half time.  In the second half though, Sao Tome and Principe came out quickly again and again got an early goal to make it 4-2 and 5-4 on aggregate both in favor of the Leone Stars.  But a third conceded by the Sierra Leone would have seen them go out on away goals.  The Leone Stars held on though, Kamara had a third goal ruled out due to an offside call.

The Leone Stars advance to the next round of qualifying which will be a home-home series against one of the teams that qualified for the 2011 African Cup of Nations.  Should Sierra Leone win that series, then they will advance to the 2013 tournament in South Africa.