Liberia: Better days ahead – as Lone Star fail to shine against Nigeria
By Peterking Quaye – ‘Warri Wolves’ striker Sunday Mba scored both goals that saw the Super Eagles stamping their superiority on Liberia’s Lone Star in Monrovia. The Super Eagles outshine their Lone Stars opponents in front of president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who used the game to commemorate her swearing in for a second term in office.
Mba’s first goal came on nine minutes when he scored from a Reuben Gabriel pass to silence the 18,000-seater stadium. The 23-year-old striker converted the second on 30 minutes from an assist by Ejike Uzoenyi as the Liberians struggled to find an equaliser.
The team even ahead of its encounter with Namibia on Wednesday 29 February, 2012 in the qualification series of the World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in Monrovia, exhibited a dismal display of competitive soccer, disgracefully bowing down at home to the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
In an interview with Shout-Africa.com after the game he said “This is just the beginning,” Keshi. “We must go to Rwanda and win and go to any part of Africa and indeed the world to continue this good performance for the world to know that our football has seen a real rebirth.”
Italian Coach Roberto Landi, the Lone Star was defeated 2-0 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in front of a huge home crowd.
Liberia’s premiership Golden Boot holder Vatali Sie of LISCR FC, Watanga FC Puncher Ballah Somah and Barrack Young Controllers forward Leon Power came in for the second half of the game . Even an 83rd-minute golden opportunity was wasted by James Soto Roberts due to poor anticipation, several slim chances came the way of Lone Star but was not utilize to at least put a smile on the face of the President Sirleaf.
But, Eagles’ technical crew frowned at the bias manner in which the local referee handled the game in the second half as he scuttled Eagles’ attacking forays much to the consternation of the Liberians, who trooped out of the field in the closing stages, unable to believe the superlative outing of the home-groomed Super Eagles.
Several other chances were created by the Nigerians, but centre referee Ebeneser Konah and his two assistants Augustine Gooding and Sylvester Johnson ensured that the Eagles do not rub more salt on their injuries with questionable off-side calls and free-kicks.
Recall has it that Liberia has lost to Nigeria three times in four meetings. The team settled to a 1-all draw in Monrovia during the first leg of the London 20212 Olympic qualifiers and got beaten 6-1 in Lagos by the Super Eagles. The Lone Star was again whipped 1-0 in the WAFU tournament just a few days following their 6-1 walloping by Nigerian home-based team in the second leg of the London Olympic qualifiers.
With such a performance the Lone Star in the wake of the Bility lead football administration in the country, soccer fans yesterday expressed fear about the team’s ability to improve. After many soccer fan was of the view that the 6 months proposed campaigning was the solution to the team performance.
