KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kei Kamara knows what it feels like to be written off.
All of 128 spots separated Kamara and 137th-ranked Sierra Leone from regional heavyweight Egypt (ranked ninth) before they traveled to Cairo last Sunday to kick off Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
Though few believed in them outside their homeland, Kamara and the Leone Stars shocked all of Africa by drawing 1-1 with the Pharaohs in both sides' opening qualifier.
“It wasn’t anything that anyone outside our team thought would happen,” Kamara said in a phone interview this week. “Media and everyone just thought Egypt was going to crush us. We were a little nervous – I know I was.”
Who could blame him?
Egypt have won the last two ACN tournaments, using their skill on the ball and tactical acumen to top what is fast becoming a very competitive international federation. Sierra Leone, unfortunately, is known more for civil warfare than soccer prowess.
Facing long odds away from home, Sierra Leone entered the match planning on sitting back, defending and absorbing the overwhelming favorite’s pressure while hoping to find a few scattered chances of their own.
“Egypt is not the typical strong, athletic African team,” Kamara said. “They are very technical.”
But after the match started, those tactics largely went out the window. The Leone Stars steadily gained confidence and settled into the intimidating atmosphere at Cairo Stadium and briefly took the lead in the second half before conceding the equalizer a few minutes later.
Despite missing out on what would have been a historic three points, Kamara – who earned his fifth cap for Sierra Leone – said the reception from the country in the wake of the result had been incredible.
“The love that you get from the people is just different from when you play club,” he said. “When you play for your club, you are representing a city. When you play for your national team, you are representing the whole nation.”
Even though Kamara was only able to spend one day in his homeland before traveling to Egypt, he said the well wishes and love he got from his family, friends and compatriots prior to the match was invaluable.
And after the shocking result against the Pharaohs, even the doubters might come around.
“The country was very excited for us going over there,” Kamara said. “But there are definitely some people that don’t believe in us because we haven’t done anything in awhile. When I do my interviews at home, I tell them, ‘Don’t believe in the players, believe in the country and support your nation.’”
Sierra Leone still face long odds to qualify for the Cup of Nations out of a group that includes South Africa and Niger. That tough draw, which will likely be the side's most difficult test during qualifying, should go a long way toward creating belief within the team and country.
The Leone Stars face South Africa in Freetown on Oct. 8, a tantalizing matchup, as the home team won a previous meeting in Sierra Leone two years ago.
Kamara's appearance with Sierra Leone for that game isn’t guaranteed, as the game clashes with Kansas City’s home game against Seattle a day later. But the Wizards' leading scorer said he is just hoping to continue to improve in KC and drive his club to the playoffs in order to benefit his nation.
“When I come back [to Kansas City], I just want to improve and keep doing more,” he said. “Because when I do more, I know that, whenever I go back to my country, the people appreciate what I’m doing outside the national team, too.”
