MONROVIA – Liberia’s Senior Women’s National Football Team ended their 2025 WAFU Zone A Women’s Cup campaign on a high note, securing a 1-0 victory over Mali on Saturday, May 31 at the Stade Cheikha Boidiya in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
By Christopher C. Walker [email protected])
The result earned Liberia the bronze medal in the sub-regional tournament, marking their second third-place finish after doing the same in the inaugural edition in 2020.
Despite facing travel delays and limited preparation time, the team showed resilience and determination throughout the competition.
Arriving in Mauritania less than two days before their opening match, the Lone Star Ladies faced early hurdles due to logistical and financial constraints. Nonetheless, the squad, led by Head Coach Salam Kebede, pushed through to reach the semifinals and ultimately triumphed in the third-place playoff.
“We came here not to chase medals, but to build a team,” said Coach Kebede following the match. “I told the girls to focus on their performance rather than pressure. To come away with a bronze shows how far we’ve come, and how much potential this team truly has.”
The decisive moment of the match came in the 63rd minute when striker Delphine Glao of Real Muja broke the deadlock. She timed her run perfectly to latch onto a through ball, evaded her defender, and calmly slotted the ball past the Malian goalkeeper to give Liberia the lead.
Mali pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but the Liberian defense, well-organized and disciplined, held firm until the final whistle. Glao’s performance earned her the Woman of the Match honors in the bronze medal contest.
The victory was especially significant for a team that missed the 2023 edition of the WAFU tournament due to funding challenges. The players and technical staff viewed this year’s success as a step forward in rebuilding the program and a demonstration of the country’s growing potential in women’s football.
“This result is not just a win; it’s a statement,” Coach Kebede emphasized. “We’ve proven that with support, we can compete with the best in the region. What we need now is continuity, training camps, and investment from stakeholders to take this further.”
The Lone Star Ladies now turn their attention to the upcoming African Women’s Championship qualifiers.
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