Monrovia – The race to the second division league of Liberian football is getting tougher day after day, with teams dropping from the national third division playoff while others continue to progress to the next stage of the competition.
BY: Christopher C. Walker 0777898224/0886723075 [email protected]
Pepper FC, Philadelphia Lone Star, Mighty Enforcers FC, Brewerville United, and Wologisi FC New Horizon FC have all secured their place in the Quarterfinals of the ongoing national playoff.
On Sunday, Montserrado County Champions Pepper FC strolled through to the quarters of the Liberia Football Association 3rd division playoffs after a 5-0 demolition of Future Stars of Grand Bassa at Antoinette Tubman Stadium. Antonio Norbord’s brace, and a goal each from Leo Wolloh, Wiaka Tureh, and Julius Paye against Future Star were enough to qualify the Montserrado County Champions.
In the early kickoff on Sunday, June 4, 2023, New Horizons progressed to the last 8 after winning against United Boomers of Bomi 5-3 on penalties following their 1-1 draw. Daniel Howe was summoned from the bench before the final whistle and turned out to be the cult hero as he saved the decisive spot kick, taking the Margibi County side to the quarterfinals.
On Saturday, June 3, 2023, in the opening games of the knockout stage, Philadelphia Lone Star secured a ticket to the quarterfinals with a convincing 3-0 win over Tusa FC. The Montserrado County outfit took a 2-0 lead over Bong County’s Tusa FC at half-time. The win marked Philadelphia Lone Star’s 4th victory in the competition as they topped Group A with 9 points during the group stage.
In other results, it was a tense encounter between Mighty Enforcers and Skills FC as both teams played to a scoreless first half. It was Enforcers’ star player Mohammed Keita and Cyrus Moore’s second-half goals that sealed their 2-1 victory over Skills FC of Grand Gedeh, after the Zulu Whiskey Boys of Grand Gedeh missed twice from the penalty spot.
Meanwhile, in game three, Brewerville United FC’s three goals in the first half gave them a convincing 3-0 win over Dominion FC, the Champions of Nimba County. In the day’s final showpiece, Wologisi FC of Lofa County secured a narrow 1-0 victory over NPA IV of Maryland County after a goalless first half.
The tournament, which kicked off on May 25, brought together 32 clubs from 14 Counties, with only three clubs gaining promotion to the second division league of Liberian football at the end of the competition. The playoff is an annual event held by the LFA in one County or through a co-host rotation. This local football festival is used to promote clubs from the third division to the second division league.
During the playoff, thirty-two third division clubs representing the fifteen counties nationwide gather in a host county and compete for available slots in the second division league of Liberian football.
Grand Kru County is the only county that does not have a representative in this year’s edition of the national playoff due to the Sub-Association not running a league season during the just-ended Third Division 2022-2023 League Season across the Country.
In this year’s edition, only three clubs will gain promotion, including the winner and runner-up of the Grand Final, as well as the winner of the third-place match.
