MONROVIA — Liberia’s national U-17 team, the Junior Lone Star, will face The Gambia on Thursday, September 17, in a high-stakes WAFU Zone A Championship semi-final, with the route to the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking a crucial turn.
By: Christopher C. Walker | 0777898224 / 0886723075 | [email protected]
The 7:00 PM encounter carries extra weight following a qualification adjustment stemming from Senegal’s status as reigning U-17 AFCON champions.
Because Senegal already holds an automatic berth in the continental tournament, the distribution of WAFU Zone A’s remaining places will depend on how the semi-finals unfold:
According to the qualification criteria the two finalists will automatically earn spots at the U-17 AFCON while If Senegal Reaches the Final than the losing semi-finalists will clash in a third-place playoff, with the winner taking the third and final AFCON ticket.
If Senegal Misses the Final there will be no third-place playoff held, meaning the loser of the Liberia–Gambia fixture will be eliminated directly, as Senegal’s automatic entry absorbs the third slot.
For head technical staff of Liberian a victory over The Gambia guarantees direct passage to the regional final and delivers a historic, first-ever qualification for the U-17 AFCON.
Road to the Semi-Finals
The Junior Lone Star topped their group with four points from two matches to reach the knockout stage.
After opening with a 1–1 draw against Mali, Liberia earned a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Guinea. Peter Putu Jr. Put Liberia ahead in the 18th minute before Guinea equalized. Prince Smith later converted a penalty to secure the win and push Liberia into the last four.
Senior International Boost
To motivate the squad, Liberian international player Sampson Dweh pledged US$1,500 to the team in recognition of their strong run in the tournament.
With the revised qualification rules leaving no room for error, Liberia enters Thursday’s clash with a clear objective defeat The Gambia, reach the final, and join Africa’s U-17 elite.
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