Naby Keita’s return to his roots in Conakry, Guinea, was more than just a casual post-season break — it turned into a heartwarming homecoming story that resonated with fans both locally and globally.
In what looked like a moment straight out of a film, Keita took to the pitch at Stade Koitayah in the suburb of Coleah, the same place where his footballing journey began. Decked out in Liverpool’s new home kit — notably wearing the No. 70 instead of his usual No. 8 — Keita lit up the field during a local exhibition match with friends from Santoba FC, his old club.
According to reports by Med Sesay and Mlamine Toure, Keita scored twice and celebrated in style with the Zapata dance, bringing joy to fans who packed the stands to watch their hometown hero play once again.
“After almost a decade that he has not played again in his old stadium, Naby Keita and his friends from Santoba FC celebrated his goal this afternoon with the dance of Zapata,” Sesay shared.
It wasn’t just about football, either. Keita also connected with Mamadi Kaba Dieng, a local football legend and current AS Kaloum Star player, and offered to renovate Dieng’s home — a gesture that speaks volumes about Keita’s character and loyalty to his roots.
Though he may miss the first days of pre-season training at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre, this trip was clearly a soul-filling stop before diving back into the demands of European football. For fans in Guinea, it was a rare chance to see a global star play on home soil — and for Keita, it looked like a meaningful reunion with the community that shaped him.