Amos Magee, Minnesota United’s head of development, was scouting prospects on Sierra Leone’s Under-20 national team last fall and first identified 18-year-old Alpha Kabia as a potential target for the Loons.
Then Magee’s eyes were drawn on the screen to Kabia’s teammate, attacking midfielder Momoh Kamara, and Magee eagerly contacted MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad.
“If only we could get this guy,” Magee recalled sharing with El-Ahmad.
El-Ahmad didn’t think signing the 19-year-old Kamara out of the East Africa country would be possible for MNUFC, yet as the Kabia signing progressed this spring, adding Kamara became more realistic.
In May, MNUFC announced the signing of Kamara on loan from Mattia FC in Sierra Leone through December; the deal includes a purchase option for 2026 and beyond. Kamara is currently with MNUFC2, the Loons’ developmental team, but the 5-foot-7 playmaker has quickly become a top prospect in the club’s system and might play into United’s international friendly against German club Holstein Kiel on Monday at Allianz Field.
“I hope I have a chance to play,” Kamara, now 20, told the Pioneer Press on Saturday. “Because if I have the chance, I know I can do something different. I believe myself, I believe my quality.”
Almost immediately with MNUFC2, Kamara showed his knack for scoring and creating goals. In his second substitute appearance, he scored in a 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids II on June 28. He has played in three total matches at the MLS Next Pro level.
“Remarkably good in tight spaces, good creativity, good imagination,” Magee said of Kamara last week. “Certainly at the lower level, you can organize your team around this attacking prowess. … He won’t be the finished product yet, but it’ll be, I think, very exciting for our fans.”
Kamara’s stock grew between Magee spotting him in the African Cup of Nations qualifying tournament in Liberia and him eventually joining MNUFC.
In March, he played for Sierra Leone’s senior national team in World Cup qualifiers, including against Egypt and Liverpool FC star Mo Salah. Then in the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in May, he scored a hat trick versus Egypt and had another goal against South Africa to be the tournament’s leading scorer. He had signed with MNUFC by the time he burst onto the scene at AFCON.
“Momoh is different,” Sierra Leone coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara was quoted by cafonline.com. “He has the heart of a lion and the feet of an artist. He doesn’t just play football — he lives it. He makes others better.”
Karama’s transition to the U.S. will be eased by his previous experience in Portugal with the reserve team for Leixoes SC in 2023-24 and with fellow countryman Kabia now a teammate in Minnesota. Magee noted Kamara’s maturity and willingness to put in work defensively on top of attacking.
Magee was integral in the Loons signing South African forward/wingback Bongi Hlongwane in 2022 and he believes Africa can be a place for MNUFC to continue to go for up-and-coming prospects. The enclave of East Africans in the Twin Cities, he feels, can help them adjust to the culture shock of the U.S.
“That kind of synergy, both of us (El-Ahmad and Magee), are utterly committed to based on our experience having traveled there and spent time in the culture, in the countries, and have seen a level of soccer that I think we’re both really excited about trying to make our club a destination spot for talented young African players,” Magee said.
Kamara said he is trying to focus on the present, not his MLS debut or further stages in his career, while Magee noted that Kamara’s potential option price isn’t considered prohibitive for MNUFC.
“I think it’s all very possible; we wouldn’t have set it up if it wasn’t,” Magee said. “Our hope is that we exercise it, but that’s going to be up to him and up to us and how we work together.”
Briefly
The Loons’ new limited-edition alternative kit was leaked online Friday and the retro jersey is a distinct look akin to the 1970s Minnesota Kicks’ bubbly font and color scheme of orange and light blue. MNUFC will first wear the threads at an upcoming match and will also don it for a game in St. Paul when the club welcomes back former Minnesota players. … Loons center back Nico Romero was hit in the calf during the 2-1 win at FC Dallas on Friday and was subbed out in the 80th minute. The injury will make him questionable for the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against Chicago on Tuesday. … Mexican club Tigres is reportedly making a $3 million bid for MNUFC left wingback Joseph Rosales. The athletic Honduran has been an increasing subject of transfer rumors.
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