Sporting Kansas City striker Kei Kamara will join the Sierra Leone National Team for their final African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa, to be played Saturday, October 8th in Nelspruit, South Africa.
"It's a big game for us, a very big game for the nation," Kamara said. "We just have to stay focused."
Kamara, who leads Sporting with nine goals and four assists this season, will depart after Sporting Kansas City's training session on Wednesday morning and will be available for the team's next MLS match against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, October 15th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
MEMBERSHIP: Kamara on his way
Since making his debut for Sierra Leone in 2009, Kamara has earned a total of nine appearences for his national side. Most recently, Kamara started and played 90 minutes for the Leone Stars in their 1-0 win over Niger in June and again going the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 win over Egypt in September.
Sierra Leone and South Africa currently sit even in second place in Group G with eight points ahead of Saturday's showdown. Both teams are one point back of group leaders Niger, who play at Egypt on Saturday.
The top team in each group will qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from January 21st through February 12th, 2012. Additionally, the two best runners-up from Groups A-J will also advance to the 28th edition of the continental championship.
Sierra Leone have twice qualified for the African Cup of Nations, in 1994 and 1996, and can put the nation in position to emerge as the group's top team if they defeat South Africa on Saturday.
Saturday's match will kick off at 5pm local time (10am CT) inside Mbombela Stadium, a venue that hosted four matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.