Monrovia -Liberia national football team head Coach Mario Marinica has selected 23 players for the Lone Star’s two World Cup Qualifiers in June.

By: Christopher C Walker christopherc.walker@frontpageafriaconline.com 0777898224/0886723075

According to a release from the Liberia Football Association, out of the 23 players, six are foreign-based, while 17 are local players.

The foreign-based are central defender Sampson Dweh who plays in Czech Republic for Viktoria Plzeň, but on loan from MFK Vyškov, right back Mark Pabai who plays for Slovenian side PrvaLiga club Koper, midfielder Murphy Oscar Dorley of Slavia Prague in Czech Republic, Nohan Kenneh of Shrewsbury Town on loan from Hibernian Football Club, Mo Sangare Livingston in Scotland and striker Peter Wilson who plys his trade for FK Jerv in Norway.

Liberia will be away to Namibia on June 5, 2024 and São Tomé June 9, 2024. Both matches will be played in South Africa and Morocco respectively, because the two host nations don’t have FIFA approved venues.

Meanwhile Coach Mario Marinica has put Sheikh Sesay, Edward Ledlum, Jah Nyanforh, Jusu Dukuly, Emmanuel Sieh, and Armah Vaikainah on standby.

Liberia sits third from bottom with three points in a group that includes Namibia and Tunisia with six points each, Malawi with three points and Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome without points.

Full Squad

GOALKEEPERS

Tommy Songo- LISCR FC

Abdulai Koulibaly -Global Pharma

Teddy Kollie Watanga FC

DEFENDERS

Sampson Dweh-Viktoria Plzeň

Kemoh Kamara -Bea Mountain FC

Natus Swen- Watanga FC

Sebastian Teclar- LISCR FC

Nelson Laomie – Mighty Enforcers FC

Mark Pabai -Koper

Philip Tarnue-Watanga FC

Musa Sesay- LPRC Oilers

MIDFIELDERS

Oscar Dorley- Slavia Prague

Mo Sangare- Livingston

Nohan Kenneh -Shrewsbury

Abdulai  Bility- Heaven Eleven

Ousman Sean Barry- Heaven Eleven

Sheku Sheriff – LISCR FC

Chauncey Freeman- Watanga FC

Lawrence Kumeh – Paynesville FC

STRIKERS

Peter Wilson -FK Jerv  

William Gibson-Heaven Eleven

Terry Sackor LPRC Oilers

Mark Yallah – FC Kallon

Monrovia – Liberia’s Women’s Under-17 football team has been drawn against Mali in the 2024 African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the 2024 World Cup qualifiers was held in Cairo at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football.

According to the draw, Liberia’s U-17 women’s national team is scheduled to face Mali both at home and away in the second round of the 2024 African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The first leg is scheduled for 4 February in Monrovia, and the second leg is set for 10 February in Bamako, with the aggregate winner advancing to the next round of the qualifiers.

In recent times, Liberia has failed to participate in women’s youth competitions due to the George Weah-led government’s failure to allocate necessary funds for the team’s participation. However, with a new government set to take over, it seems that the country is ready for the qualifiers after many years.

A release from the Liberia Football Association disclosed that the head coach, Sekou Manubah, started training with the team on Monday evening, January 8th, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex practice pitch in Paynesville.

The FA release stated, “Liberia’s Women’s Under-17 head coach, Sekou Manubah, has invited 41 players to justify their inclusion ahead of the 2024 Women’s Under-17 World Cup qualifiers.” According to the Football House, the players have been selected from all women’s divisions, and the final squad will be camped at the George Weah Technical Center in Careysburg ahead of the second-round qualifiers with Mali.

The first leg is in Monrovia on 4 February, while the second leg is in Bamako on 10 February.

Also, during the draw, some exciting pairings emerged, putting Morocco and Burkina Faso face to face, while Uganda versus Cameroon and Burundi against Botswana are expected to showcase some thrilling youth women’s football in the next few months.

In the second round, matches are expected to take place between 2 – 4 February, with the return fixtures set for 9 – 11 February 2024.

Looking at the third round of qualifiers, the winner between Zambia and Tanzania will face off against whoever emerges at the top between Cameroon and Uganda. Meanwhile, Niger and Morocco will take on the winners of the clash between Algeria and Benin. The third round of qualifiers will be played between 10-12 May, with the return legs penciled for 17–19 May 2024.

The final round officially takes place between 7 – 9 June for the first legs, before the official decider of the three nations that will represent Africa takes place between 14 – 16 June.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 will take place in the Dominican Republic from 16 October to 3 November 2024. This will be the first time that the Dominican Republic has hosted a FIFA tournament, and the capital, Santo Domingo, will be the sole venue of the competition.