Liberia’s national football team once again fell short of its mark in putting up a better performance and only continued to dip below acceptable, much to the dismay of the fans.
In a first of its 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, the Lone Stars diminished in a 2-0 loss to Mauritania last Sunday.
Comprising of local players mostly with current domestic league leaders FC Fassel, Liberia failed to consolidate a result against the in-form visitors whose two goals from Yali Dellahi and Boubacar Bagili, were enough for the Mauritanians to collect all three points at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium, placing them in a better position for the return leg on Sunday, July 23.
Liberia missed an opportunity when goalkeeper Brahim Souleymane made a splendid effort to keep out a spot kick, maintaining a clean sheet and denying the hosts a possible consolation goal.
Sunday’s result is Liberia’s fourth defeat in five games in all competitions with the only win coming from a narrow 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone in a friendly match.
The West African nation that was once a shining star for Liberians, continues to fade away due to the team’s dismal performance. The last time the team appeared in the African Cup of Nations, they failed to cross the group stage but now the enthusiasm showed by Liberians is no more.
One of the recent down moments was in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers when the side needed just a win in their fourth match against Togo, in which they carried the advantage.
Leading with two goals up to the 54th minute, it became a nightmare after Togo got the equalizer through Floyd Ayité and Kodjo Fo Doh Laba, marking the end of the Lone Stars’ hope of qualifying for the AFCON games.
A 14-year absence from the AFCON stage is only an increasing frustration not to mention, never reaching the World Cup finals despite producing the 1995 FIFA World Player of the year, George Weah.
Liberia has another opportunity to qualify for the 2019 AFCON but the team’s readiness is wanting after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Zimbabwe on June 11 in Harare.
Feature photo: (Anthony Kokoi/DucorSports)
