Monrovia-Liberia Orange Cup runner-up Watanga FC will attempt once again to put the name of Liberia on the map of African football as they enter the 2023 CAF Confederation Cup on August 20th when they take on Stade Malien of Mali at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville City.
By: Christopher C.Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075
Watanga FC the former Liberian domestic league champions and the Stade de Malien encounter is the preliminary rounds of the CAF Cup.
CAF released the fixture with the inclusion of Liberia’s Watanga and LISCRFC. Watanga FC will be heading to the continental stage for the second time in the series.
The both teams learned about their opponent two weeks ago with the first encounter in the capital of Liberia in the weekend of August 18-20 2023 with the second leg in Bamako a week later.
Watanga who secure the slot to CAF Cup after a defeat to LISCR FC in the Orange Cup Final as LISCR won the double will be hoping to make an impression in their second continental tournament.
The soldiers Boys in 2022 represented Liberia in the CAF Champions League but fail to go beyond the first round against Nigerian champions River United FC.
The than Liberia champions were thrashed 3-0 in the first leg away from home but give a good account of themselves in the second leg at home beating the Nigerian side 1-0.
Watanga FC victory at home didn’t seal qualification but they defended their home ground.
At the end of the tie two players of the Liberian side Albert Korvah and Mark Gibson were transfer to River United as a result of their excellent display during the both leg.
As Watanga FC prepared for their second CAF competition the club have brought in some new players to strengthen their team.
A total of seven new players including Theo Nimely, Natus Swen, Daniel Nyemah, Emmanuel Sieh, Hassan Fadiga ,Emmanuel Fully and Joseph Bontee have all joined the Liberian club.
Another big boost to the Watanga FC team is the return of Star player Chauncy Freeman who have been out of the country for a year seeking greener pastures.
Freeman was instrumental in Watanga winning of their first Liberian championships in 25 years but wasn’t part of the teams CAF Champions League campaign last year but is back and ready to contribute to the team.
The winger has had time in Israel and Ghana and his experience will be key to Cooper Sannah’s team quest to go beyond the preliminary round.
In addition to the new players Watanga FC has brought in they will also depend on their representatives on the local home base National Team who have been training with team for the past one month.
Their coach Cooper Sannah currently served as deputy coach of the national team while Captain Farsedu Logan, goalkeeper Derrick Julu, midfielder Sheikh Sesay, defenders Alexander Curtis and Henry Sarkama are all part of the local national team setup Ansumana Keita.
Cooper Sannah is no stranger to Stade de Malian as he in 2017 knockout the Malian from the CAF Champions League during his time as head coach of than Liberian Champions Barrack Young Controllers BYC.
Sannah BYC team secure a hard fought 1-0 victory at home over Stade de Malien at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium with Prince Kennedy who is currently with Watanga FC scoring the long goal from the penalty spot.
The Liberia Football Association Champions at the time BYC found it very tough against the Malian Champions in Bamako who won the match 1-0 but they got knockout of the Competition on penalties shootout on home soil something the Malian will not want to repeat against another Liberian team.
Sannah has told the club officials that he is optimistic of eliminating Stade Malien starting with a win at home.
According to the double Liberian award winning coach even though the Malian side is a big club but his players will deliver.