Teeming fans that will wait for the results of the match against Tunisia on Sept. 4
On Sunday September 4, Liberia’s Lone Star will take on their Tunisian counterparts in the final decider that would give either one an edge.
The match comes on at the Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet in Tunis with South African referee Daniel Bennett at the center.
While Liberia would be deciding her strength against the Tunisians, Togo will also welcome Djibout at the Stade de Kegue in Lome with Nigerien referee Gomno Daouda at the center. Togo has 8 points and a win will give her 11 points.
Lone Star’s last encounter against Togo ended 2-2 after Liberia ran ahead with a 2-0 comfortable lead, but failed to protect their lead, allowing the Togolese to intimidate them to a draw.
That lackluster performance has affected her teeming fans and they are not 100% sure to hope for victory over Tunisia.
The confusion that resulted after the game in Monrovia caused FA President Musa Bility to admit that Togo was a better side of the two. Please recall that the Togolese had beaten Liberia 2-1 in their first leg encounter at home, after Liberia took a 1-0 lead. It was clear that Lone Star’s technical staff did not learn any lesson from the first leg loss in Lome.
Now, the attention is on Tunisia and playing in their backyard, many knowledgeable soccer fans have concluded that it would be too dangerous to assert that Liberia would collect the maximum three points.
True, Liberia needs the maximum three points to run their points from 10 to 13, while Tunisia also needs the points to climb from 10 to 13 and many people are asking if Liberia has good players enough to play differently this time, to ensure that they maintain their winning record over Tunisia.
Tunisia, it must be stated, cannot be a mere push over, and playing at home in a match that should decide their current status in Group A, it is tempting to say that they will do as much as they can to ensure what Liberia could not do against Togo at home.
Another problem is the poor away record of the Lone Star. Soccer fans could have some hope if Liberia has a history of doing well away. Some years ago, Lone Star managed a 3-1 victory over Black Stars of Ghana in Accra but fumbled the return leg at home.
And of course the team that won in Accra has already retired. It may be recalled that Liberia defeated Guinea Bissau 3-0 away and also defeated Djibouti, away. However, both Guinea Bissau and Djibouti are not countries to measure any team’s strength, when the next target is Tunisia.
As the alarming bells would begin to ring on Sept. 4, expectation is high with cautious optimism that the Lone Star may rise and shine in Tunis.