Lone Star triumphs over Tunisia
The Liberian Lone Star that beat Tunisia 1-0 at the Antionette Tubman Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. In the minds of the “doubting Liberian Thomases” and strong critics of the James Salinsa Debbah-led Lone Star, Saturday, September 5, 2015 will forever be remembered for the excellent football display by Liberia against one of Africa’s best side – Tunisia.
On the day Liberia hosted its first international football match a few days after being declared Ebola-free (Thursday, September 3, 2015), a Francis ‘Grand-pa’ Doe 79th header into the back of the Tunisian net was enough to have sent thousands of cheering spectators and fans into an unending celebrations on the final whistle at the end of 93 minutes of play.
Saturday’s victory of the Lone Star levels the team with the Carthage Eagles on three points each in Group A of the AFCON 2017 qualifying series, but the Tunisians at placed at second to Togo on goals difference over Liberia. The Togolese lead the group with six points, after beating host Djibouti 2-0 on Friday, September 4. In June, Togo defeated Liberia 2-1 on Lome in a match marred by poor refereeing by the Ivorian match officials, while Tunisia trounced Djibouti 8-1 away in round one first leg.
Liberia’s next match is away against Djibouti, while Togo will also be away to Tunisia in Group A. Impact interim coach Mauro Biello purred: “What can I say? What a performance from Didier. He’s such a committed person – he’s won everywhere, but he came here with a great spirit and such a will to win.”
