Liberia's foremost professional footballer in the Swedish premiership, Dulee Johnson is confident that the national team, Lone Star can qualify for the next African Cup of Nations.

Dulee, who spoke to me recently via telephone from his club AIK Solna's training camp in Portugal, said it is quite fortunate that the country has been drawn in a group with Cameroon, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea.

He noted that Liberia's real competitor in the group will be the Cameroonians. "Although I am not overlooking Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea, I think with proper planning and preparation, we have the players to beat them and challenge the Cameroonians for leadership of the group.” 

He called on Liberian authorities to begin right now to make plans to ensure that the country qualifies for the finals slated for Ghana in 2008.   "It is great that we have a new coach who, I believe, understands the game and the changes that the game is constantly undergoing.

The LFA and the Sports Ministry must give him all he needs so that the country can become successful," he said. The player then thanked the Egyptian government for the new coach and prayed that with the attainment of peace in the country, footballers will once again be empowered to place Liberia on the map.

Meanwhile, Dulee recently granted an interview with the leading Swedish daily, Expressen, explaining why he decided to quit his former club BK Hacken after five years. Dulee said he left because Hacken still felt that he was the same 16 year-old kid who joined the club in 2000.

He said BK Hacken failed to understand that he now has a family to support and was unwillingly to increase his salary. The offensive midfielder made a surprise move to top side AIK Solna recently and has not had any problem in settling into the first team.