U-23 Fails Liberia Again
Liberia’s unpreparedness for participation in international football competitions was against shown last Saturday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium when it failed to live up to the expectation soccer fans and spectators.
Many soccer fans who spoke to this paper following Saturday’s game, attributed the continuous poor-showing of Liberia to the inability of the current Liberia Football Association or LFA to properly manage the game and national teams.
During the weekend’s match, last season’s first division top scorer Samuel Johnson, currently striking for Nimba FC, landed his second international goal for Liberia. Johnson got the equalizer for Liberia against the Nigerians after his introduction in the second half replacing Kpah Sherman of BYC.
Sam Johnson rose above the Nigerian center back to head the ball over goalkeeper Ajiboye Muniru to bring Liberia on level term. The striker tracked a ball in the middle of the Nigerian center half, but was brought down resulting to a penalty for Liberia.
LPRC Oilers’ winger, James Soto Robert wasted the occasion to hand Liberia the must-needed home win, when he placed the ball with a low power, allowing the Nigerian keeper Ajiboye Muniru to stop the ball from entering.
The rebound of the penalty was not well converted when Patrick Wleh kicked the ball with a push-pass above the cross bar.
Meanwhile, Sam Johnson may not be available for Liberia U-23 game with the Ivory Coast this Wednesday. The striker is expected to leave the country today to begin a tryout in Sweden.
Liberia’s U-23 football team was in the first leg encounter of the All-African games qualifiers against Nigeria Junior side the Dream Team.
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The country’s junior side went into the game with a few adjustments. Alpha James was switched to left-back, while defensive midfielder, Michael Jaesue replaced U-23 captain Bill Paytoe on the right wing.
Despite the adjustments, Liberia could do no better to win the match, but forced the Nigerian Dream Team to a one-all draw leaving the country with no hope for the return leg
