Monrovia—Since their first encounter on September 10, 1975, the Sparrow Hawks of Togo and the Lone Star of Liberia have faced off in various competitions, including AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, friendly matches, and regional tournaments, such as the CEDEAO Cup (Six Nations) and the Zone III Eight Nations Tournament.
By: Wleh Bedell, Contributing Writer
In 17 matches, Togo have emerged as the dominant force, securing nine victories compared to Liberia’s four, with four matches ending in draws.
A total of 35 goals have been scored between the two sides, highlighting the competitive nature of their rivalry.
This Friday, October 6, the two teams will clash for the 18th time in Lomé, marking the opening of the Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
The match brings back memories of past encounters featuring standout performances from players like Liberia’s James Debbah, who scored a brace against Togo, and William Jebor, who found the net in consecutive matches against the Sparrow Hawks.
Another memorable moment was Simon Mattor’s overlapping run that led to a goal in the third-place match of the Six Nations Tournament at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex (SKD), where Liberia triumphed 1-0.
On Togo’s side, players like striker Bachirou Salou, who once played for Borussia Mönchengladbach, defender Tadju Salou, goalkeeper Agassa Kossi, and Koffi Fiawo have left their marks on this historic fixture.
As both teams prepare for their upcoming showdown, much has changed. New Lone Star coach Mario Marinica and his Togolese counterpart Dare Nibombe are tasked with devising strategies to secure the desired result in this crucial qualifier.
This fixture has seen its share of epic clashes, including Liberia’s 3-0 thrashing of Togo in the Zone III Eight Nations Tournament, where James Debbah scored twice before being injured by the rugged Togolese defender Lawson Plaka at the SKD.
Another unforgettable encounter was the 2-2 draw at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS), where the Lone Star surrendered a two-goal lead in a critical AFCON qualifier, with Francis Doe and William Jebor scoring a Puskás-esque goal.
As the two nations prepare for their 18th meeting, fans are eager to see whether Liberia can narrow the gap or if Togo will extend its dominance in this longstanding rivalry.
