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Lone Star Suffers 3-0 First Leg Defeat To Senegal In CHAN Tie


  28 Juillet      49        Sport (7812),

   

MONROVIA, July 25 ( LINA) – The Senior National Team of Liberia, Lone Star, has conceded a 3-0 first leg to defeat to the Lions of Teranga of Senegal in the African Nations Championship Cup (CHAN).

CHAN, which is translated in French as (Championent d’ Afrique des Nations) was played at the refurbished Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex (SKD) on Sunday, July 24 in Monrovia.

The CHAN Cup is a biennial African National Association Football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was first announced on September 11, 2007.

The participating nations are required to use players who are currently playing in their national league competitions or other competitions organized for home-based players.

In the first edition of the competition in 2009 in Ivory Coast, was won by the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Today, Morocco are the defending champions, defeating Mali in the grand finale to clinch the championship in 2020.

The Liberia National Team under the much-criticized caretaker, Ansu Kieta, who was recently appointed the by the Executive Committee of the Liberia Football Association headed by Mustapha Raji, has conceded a massive 3-0 defeat in the first leg to its counterpart, Africa Champions Senegal in the 2022 edition of CHAN Cup at the refurbished Samuel Kayon Doe Sports Complex, making Sunday’s game the first international match after a period under ban by FIFA.

In the 2021 edition of CHAN Cup, Liberia suffered a 3-1 aggregate defeat against the Senegalese when both teams last met.

A Canadian-born Liberian, Ansu Kieta, was appointed by the LFA after the football governing body communicated to the then coach Peter Butler that his contract will not be renewed, making Kieta as a caretaker of the Senior National Team, which had a fantastic moment with the Youth 15 & 17 national teams, and since  a period of over 10 days in charge, today’s game against the visitors, the « Teranga Lions” of Senegal, was considered as a test by some critics who believe that a win against Senegal will better place him in a position of becoming the head coach proper.

But on the contrary, Liberia’s Lone star under the new Caretaker had disappointing moment today.

In the first 15 minutes, the Senegalese netted at the back of Liberia’s goalkeeper Ashley Williams as a result of poor defensive tactics and the goal was scored by Bouly J. Sambou, putting the visitors in the lead.

Though Liberia conceded an early goal in the first half, but the much emphasized statement by Coach Kieta whose philosophy is « tao-tao or ball possession” was actually seen but failed to advance in to the danger zone of the opponents, while displaying ball control.

The Senegalese National Team’s consistently maintained the pressure on Liberia, denying all attempts of creating passes and taking control of ball as goalkeeper Aliou Faty, who was between the sticks for the visitors was seen to be on holiday as Liberia failed to create any real attempt, till it managed to get a free kick out of 18 yard box of Senegal.

The kick was taken by Divine Teah in the 30th minute of first half but was no threat to Senegalese goalkeeper Faty.

A moment after Liberia could not produce a goal from the set piece, a player wearing jersey number 2 for Senegal, Raymond Diame, got the second goal in the 33rd minute and later in the 35th minute, a player donning jersey #7 Jean Louise Barthelemy Diouf closed the score line to put Senegal 3-0 ahead of Liberia within the first 45 minutes of play.

After the first half break, in the first 10 minutes, Liberia was seen resisting the visitors’ attacks and displaying « tao-tao » ball possession only in their own half, but the Senegalese could not allow them to get hold on to the ball, which could be dangerous for the visitors as they maintained Liberia late pressure after the introduction of Bea Mountain midfielder, Yaya Bility, who attempted creating chances but the Senegalese were more defensive than offensive till to the full time of the match.

Liberia will travel to Dakar, Senegal on 30 July for the return leg with the Senegalese leading 3-0 aggregate against Liberia ahead of the return match.

In order for Lone star to advance to the next stage against the Teranga Lions, Liberia must do everything possible to score four goals in Senegal to have a spot in the next stage of the competition.

Speaking to journalists at a post-match press conference, the caretaker of the Senior National Team of Liberia, Ansu Kieta, mentioned that the performance of his players was actually impressive after a short period in charge.

He pointed out that even though they were defeated but his philosophy as a coach, who believes in ball possession, was actually seen from his team but considered the fact the strikers did not deliver as expected.

But again, he said with time Lone Star is heading in a positive direction soon.

The Liberia Senior National Team caretaker observed that the opponents’ win in Liberia but does not mean that Liberia is out of the competition automatically, as the return leg in Senegal will be a different ball game, which they are very optimistic of qualifying to the next stage away from home.

« Even though we lost at home, but we are going to Senegal to get a qualification. As for the defeat, we will go back to work and see what was the problem but I think there is no major problem, » Coach Kieta said.

Amara Konneh

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