Sierra Leone star Kei Kamara to be investigated over alleged 'defamation' of Benin hotel where national team was lodged for AFCON clash with Nigeria

The Sierra Leone Football Association has announced an investigation into national team striker Kei Kamara after the player posted videos online criticising the national team’s hotel accommodation in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria.

Sierra Leone's national team are currently in Nigeria for an AFCON qualifier against the Super Eagles at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin on Friday night in Benin.

Kamara in a social media post that he has since deleted, claims he was not too pleased with the hotel where the Sierra Leonean delegation have been lodged.

In the viral video, the 36-year-old striker who plays in the United States can be seen complaining about the texture of the pillows and mattress in his room, claiming he couldn't sleep.

He also jokingly replayed a conversation he had about his concerns with a hotel employee.

“I go to the front desk, talk to the lady about how I can’t sleep,” the Minnesota United striker said in one of the videos which was apparently shot in the early hours of Thursday.

“She’s so calm ‘don’t worry, don’t worry we’ll fix everything in the morning, don’t worry’. I said, ‘I can’t sleep, I’ve been lying down for two or three, four hours, I can’t sleep’. ‘Don’t worry we’ll fix it in the morning we’ll fix it’.

“And why can’t I sleep?”, he asked before pointing to the pillows and the bed.

“This bed, this pillow” he replies while striking the mattress.

Raising the pillow he says “my head cannot sink in this thing, my head can’t get in the pillow. So my neck hurts. My body can’t get comfortable because this (hitting the mattress) is a box spring not a mattress.”

The video which was hours before the all important match against Nigeria has received condemnation from the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), as the association doesn't want such publicity.

The clearly embarrassed federation have now issued a swift apology to the hotel and the NFF and announced an investigation into Kamara’s behaviour.

“The Sierra Leone Football Association will open an investigation into a viral video posted by the Sierra Leone National Team striker Kei Kamara in which he is seen defaming a hospitality establishment at which the National Team Delegation including the Minister of Sports Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, the Executive Director of the National Sports Authority Dr. Kenneth Brima and the President of Sierra Leone Football Association Madam Isha Johansen are currently residing,” the SLFA said in a statement on Thursday.

“The SLFA unreservedly apologises to the Management of Lushville Hotel and Suites in Benin City, Edo State, emphasizing that the views expressed by Kei Kamara are his individual comments which are strongly condemned by the FA.

“The SLFA would also like to apologize to the Nigerian Football Federation for Kei Kamara’s unprofessional conduct and any embarrassment caused. Further information will be provided on the conclusion of the investigation.”

It is not clear if Kamara will be suspended for the game yet.

It's not the first time Kamara is getting into trouble over his social media activity as he has been suspended thrice before by the SLFA.