Paynesville City- Lone Star’s interim coach, Thomas Kojo, believes that his players are prepared to progress to the next round of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) as they face Sierra Leone on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
By Jaheim T. Tumu- [email protected]
Kojo’s side had an advantage after securing a 2-1 victory against their West African neighbors, Sierra Leone, in the first leg, ending Liberia’s winless streak on home soil. However, the victory means Lone Star head to the second-leg home fixture with a 2-1 aggregate.
Lawrence Kumeh opened the scoring for Kojo’s men with a brilliantly taken free-kick, beating Sierra Leone’s goalkeeper Francis Kroma, but the visitors levelled proceedings through Suffian Kalokoh. However, William Gibson’s cross deflected on a Sierra Leonean defence for an own goal.
Addressing a pre-match press conference on Thursday, Kojo said his players are upbeat, having won a game at home for the first time.
Accordingly, he said from what he has seen in training, the players are physically, technically, and tactically ready to achieve victory for the country.
Said Kojo, “The most important things we won away for which we had the advantage. It is not going to be an easy game because the Sierra Leoneans know that they are at a disadvantage in terms of aggregate.”
“They are going to come all out to make sure they can get a win or tie-on aggregate, but we are prepared and believe that we will come out with flying colours,” he said.
Kojo acknowledged that the match against the Sierra Leoneans would be a tough game test, but assured Liberians that he would execute a perfect game plan to ensure that the players give their best and manage the match in an organized manner.
“We know even a draw will take us through, but we are not going with the intention that we are going to sit back. We are going to make sure to attack properly, defend well and then at a certain stage of the game, whatever we are going to do tactically, we are going to do it to get the best result.”
