Monrovia—Liberia’s national football team, the Lonestar, will host Togo at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in a crucial match for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification.
By: Christopher C Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075
The visitors, currently sitting in third place in Group E with two points from their first four matches, are looking to revive their qualification hopes after a challenging start.
In contrast, Liberia sit at the bottom in the group with just one point and have already been eliminated from contention.
Liberia’s recent performance in the AFCON qualifiers has been disappointing, with the team suffering back-to-back defeats against Equatorial Guinea in rounds three and four respectively.
This marks the tenth consecutive failure for the Lonestar to qualify for the AFCON since their last appearance in the 2001-02 season, where they exited in the group stage.
Despite the setback in AFCON qualifying, Liberia have shown promise in other competitions, currently sitting third in their CAF World Cup qualifying group, just one point behind Namibia. Under interim coach Thomas Kojo, the team recently triumphed over Sierra Leone in the first round of the African Nations Championship qualifiers.
In a press conference held on Monday, Coach Kojo expressed optimism ahead of the match against Togo, emphasizing the need for mental strength in his players.
“While our qualification chances may seem slim, we are prepared to give our best against Togo,” he stated. “Our objective is to win and make Liberians proud of the national team.”
Liberia’s record at home has been lackluster, with only one win in their last six matches. However, they are determined to turn things around against their regional rivals.
On the other hand, Togo enters the match seeking redemption after a disappointing 5-1 loss to Algeria followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat to the same team.
The Sparrowhawks need a victory over Liberia to keep their qualification hopes alive, especially with Algeria facing Equatorial Guinea in another crucial matchup in Group E.
Adding to Togo’s challenges, coach Dare Nibombe has faced difficulties assembling a full squad, with only 12 of the 25 players called up reporting for duty by Monday. Key absences include Mansour Ouro-Tagba, who withdrew to focus on club commitments in Germany, and Khaled Narey, who declined the national team call-up for personal reasons.
Both teams have struggled with consistency recently, making this match a closely contested affair without a clear favorite. The previous encounter between Liberia and Togo ended in a 1-1 draw, highlighting the competitive nature of this rivalry.
Kick-off is scheduled for later today, and the match promises to be an exciting showdown as both teams seek to make their mark in this significant qualifying campaign.