Paynesville City- Liberia national team head coach,  Ansu Keita says  he’s target is  to ensure Lone Star finished in the  play-off slot of the 2026 FIFA World Cup ahead of  the upcoming qualifier against Malawi at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.

By Jaheim T.  Tumu

Liberia is  placed in Group H alongside Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Malawi and  Namibia.

Keita who disclosed that he was never given a mandate by the Liberia Football Association to qualify the team to the worldcup, said the Lone Star would not be a mere participate in the qualifiers but a team ready to defend the national colors. 

Said Keita,  “There is no coach in this world that doesn’t have an objective,  that doesn’t have aim of achieving. The world Cup qualifier,  our aim  is to play the world cup qualifier game by game but if we cannot finished first from the group I think we will finished best second to go for play-off.”

“So that is our aim,  so that definitely tells you that we are not in this qualifier to joke.  We are here to defend the color of this nation.” Keita who has never won a game for the senior national team of Liberia told the media.

Since being appointed Lone Star head coach,  he is yet to secure a win for Liberia. One notable  disappointing result,  was the 2-1  home defeat against 2-1 South Africa which could have qualified Liberia for the 2023 AFCON  showpiece in Ivory Coast. 

Keita indicated that from a tactical perspective despite the poor run of results,  his side has made progress in their past  games. 

He emphasized that his side will displays their attack prowess in   Friday’s match.

 The Lone Star head coach,  who  made an ambitious statement in the presser,  said his players were excited and ready to go for the win against visitors on Friday,  November 17, 2023.

“After the four games,  we know our team,  how to pair our players,  how to get our players ready.  We know we have a  task to perform tomorrow.  With the effort, the mentality, we are going to win, “ he said.