In the heart of Freetown, at the Trade Centre Field, the atmosphere usually crackles with anticipation when the ball finds the feet of Musa Noah Kamara. Known to millions simply as “Musa Tombo,” the 25-year-old striker is, by many accounts, the most naturally gifted finisher Sierra Leone has produced in a generation.

His name is synonymous with the “rocket strike” against Ivory Coast that stunned the continent during the 2021 AFCON—a goal CAF rated among the top ten of the tournament.

But today, the cheers have taken on a quieter, more prayerful tone. As of February 2026, the man who once made goal-scoring look like a foregone conclusion is weathering a ten-month drought in the Sierra Leone Premier League.

Currently donning the colors of Ports Authority FC, Tombo is a striker searching for more than just the back of the net; he is searching for the rhythm of a career that has been as volatile as it has been brilliant.

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The tragedy of Musa Tombo’s career is not a lack of opportunity, but a recurring inability to remain in the rooms that open for him. The timeline of his “wasted opportunities” has become a somber refrain for Sierra Leonean football fans.

It began in 2019, when a 19-year-old Tombo signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Swedish side Trelleborgs FF. Within a week, he terminated the contract. The initial reason given—the “unbearable cold” of Sweden—became a meme, though he later claimed he returned to serve the national team.

In August 2022, a move to the Libyan giants Al-Ittihad ended in similar fashion. This time, the striker cited safety concerns, claiming the sound of gunfire in the distance made him fear for his life. By the time July 2025 rolled around, and a three-year deal with Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien was announced, many hoped the cycle had broken. Instead, the story took its most concerning turn yet: Tombo reportedly fainted twice during training sessions. While he pointed to the club’s administrative issues with FIFA, the reality was a swift return to Freetown just six days after his departure.

To many observers, Tombo’s career is a cautionary tale of “village championship”—the idea of a talent that refuses to adapt to a foreign atmosphere. However, those closer to the game see a more complex human struggle.

Following his return from Tunisia, Babadi Kamara, President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), made a plea for compassion. “We have to think about Musa’s mental state more than the money,” Kamara urged, suggesting that the pressure to perform abroad might be at odds with the player’s psychological well-being. “We should accept that Musa may not be able to play out of Sierra Leone. We need to manage him here at the local level, where he finds happiness and freedom.”

Even his former national team coach, John Keister, has frequently called for the nation to “pray for Musa,” describing him not as a defiant star, but as a “young boy going through the difficulties our environment brings.”

Now back with the “Waterfront Boys” of Ports Authority, the pressure is mounting. After surviving a harrowing team bus accident in 2024 that claimed the life of coach Lamin Bangura, Tombo showed flashes of his old self, winning Man of the Match awards and scoring crucial goals.

Yet, the current ten-month goal drought is unprecedented for a man who won the Sierra Leone Premier League Golden Boot with 15 goals for East End Lions and 19 for Bo Rangers. The “prolific” tag is beginning to feel like a heavy coat.

Despite the terminated contracts and the current silence of his boots, the Sierra Leonean public remains fiercely protective of their “Golden Boy.” To his fans, he isn’t just a footballer; he is a symbol of raw, unrefined talent from the streets of Tombo village.

As the 2025/26 season progresses, the question remains: Can Musa Tombo find the peace of mind necessary to reignite his fire? Or will he remain the greatest “what if” in West African football? For now, the Sierra Leone Premier League waits, hoping that the next time the ball hits his left foot, the net will finally bulge again, and the “Tombo” we know will truly be back.