Mohammed Kamara Pulls Out of Lone Star Squad, Reignites Loyalty Debate
Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Monrovia (file photo, 2012), home of the Lone Star. Photo: blk24ga, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Forward Mohammed Kamara has withdrawn from Liberia's squad for the September 25 and 29 AFCON qualifiers citing fitness concerns after fibula surgery, reopening a long-running debate over his commitment to the national team.
Liberian international forward Mohammed Kamara, who plays his club football for Romania's Rapid București, has withdrawn from the Lone Star squad ahead of crucial 2027 AFCON qualifying matches against Rwanda on September 25 and Mali on September 29. The Liberia Football Association said the decision followed consultation with club medical staff, with communications manager Anthony Kokoi saying Kamara "pulled out of the squad, prioritizing his long-term health and focus on getting back to 100% fitness."
The withdrawal traces back to fibula surgery Kamara underwent last year, after which he was advised to avoid artificial turf. While Rwanda's qualifier is scheduled for a natural grass pitch, potential training sessions on synthetic surfaces around the fixture appear to have factored into his decision to sit out both matches.
The move has reopened a familiar controversy around Kamara's relationship with the national team. He walked out of a Lagos camp in September 2021 after being benched for a World Cup qualifier and publicly declared his international career "officially a wrap" at the time, before being recalled by then-coach Ansumana Keita in 2024 for his official debut. Liberian fans reacted to the latest withdrawal with visible frustration; supporter Gifty Teah wrote that "wearing the Liberian jersey should be about pride, commitment, and a genuine desire to represent our nation," with some calling for coaching staff to prioritize domestic-based players.
Head coach Mohammed Erradi now faces an attacking gap heading into two matches central to Liberia's bid to reach its first AFCON finals since 2002, with the LFA yet to confirm whether a domestic replacement will be called into the squad. Whether Kamara's explanation is accepted as a genuine medical precaution or read as the latest chapter in a pattern of selective commitment will likely depend on how, and whether, he returns to the setup once the qualifiers are over.