By: Christopher C. Walker
It was another disappointing day for Liberian football lovers who took their time on a Monday evening to watch their national team in action at home against Equatorial Guinea but it turn-out as business as Usual for Lone Star who lost to the away side.
The Liberia national football team went into the match hoping to secure a win after their shocking 1-0 defeat to Malawi on Friday in the world cup qualifier group stage match but things didn’t go as planned leaving Lone Star to lost again 1-0 at the hands of Equatorial Guinea.
The visitors took an early lead in the 8th minute with a headers from a cross that beat Liberia keeper Ashley Williams.
Lone Star who many thoughts could have had a more aggressive approach to the game started the match slow as they struggling to bounce back from their defeat to Malawi
Ledlum brought life to the stadium in the 12th minute but is cross could not find anyone in box for a one touch tip in.
Lone Star missed a free header moment later as Sampson Dweh head the ball at the side net in the 35th minute and late Ledlum shot travel wide.
With the fans calling for gaol Murphy Oscar Dorley Oscar close range shot went wide after he was set up by team captain William Jebor on the 41st minute.
The visitors Equatorial Guinea missed a clear opportunity to the disbelief of their technical staff in the closing stages of the first half.
44’Liberia was reduce to ten men after Noah Kenneth picked up his second yellow of the evening in the 44th minute as the first half ended Fended 0-1.
Back from the break Second Liberia took the game to the visitors as they controlled the possession pushing the visitors in their own half.
56 minutes in the game Macauley cross save as Jebor was far from the target area.
Equatorial Guinea came close to increasing their lead but Sampson Dweh was in the right place to intercept the ball for corner.
Substitute Abu Kamara shot roll far from goal after a linkup play with Oscar and Divine Roosevelt Teah.
Lone Star deputy coach Cooper Sannah made five substitution in the second half bringing on Tonia Tisdell’ Jamal Arago , Divine Teah Abu Kamara and Daniel Toe who brought stability to the team but the found it hard to get the equalizer.
Tonia Tisdell had a golden opportunity after a magical dribbling on the tough line but he was selfish as he played the ball side netted when he had three teammates in front the goal in the 88 minutes of the match
Abu Kamara had the final opportunity of the match to seal a point for Liberia but his feet work let him down as Liberia continues search for first win at the artificial turf of the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
Liberia however remain at the bottom of the group with no point after two home matches.
Prior to the match the national team coach was asked to stay away from the game because of his own safety.
The decision was made by the LFA technical Committee on Saturday following hours of meeting with Keita and his technical staff.
According to the Committee that comprised of Ivan Browne, Anthony Laffor, Roselyn Konneh and others football stakeholders their decision was as the result of threats on Keita’s life by fans after Friday disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Malawi.
The angry fans disrupted the post-match press conference saying they were tired with Keita as head coach of Liberia National Football team because of his poor run of results.
Keita is yet to win a game with the national team since taking over from Peter Butler in January.
What is more disappointing is at home Keita lost all three games played against Senegal in the African National Championship, South Africa in the AFCON qualifier and Malawi in the World Cup qualifiers.
Our source reveal that the Committee suggested that Thomas Kojo take charge of the national team but Keita refused and insisted that his deputy Copper Sannah take charge of the team for today’s match against Equatorial Guinea.
Keita however prior to the Malawi game invited Kojo to help him technically but now to oversee the team he is afraid that Kojo could perform well and could be given the team.
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