Liberia beat Rwanda 3-2; Secure Second Spot

Jimmy Dixon Played Stopper

Oct 9, 2006
by Michael Kpayili / Staff Writer


The Liberian National Team, The Lone Star, yesterday beat her Rwandan counterpart 3-2 in the group stage qualifying series of the African Cup of Nations. The game was the second match in the qualifying zone, with a huge presence of government officials spectating. Liberia lost to Equatorial Guinea 1-2 in the first round, played in Equatorial Guinea.

The game started at about 4:20pm on Sunday, October 8, 2006 after a brief demand by the Rwanda National team that delayed the official commencement of the game which was scheduled for 4:00pm.

Officials of the Rwandan National team threatened not to honor the match unless their official national anthem could be played prior to the game. According to sources from the Rwandan delegation, the CD’s was given to the Secretary-General of the Liberian Football Association (LFA) upon their arrival in Liberia. After a thorough search, the disc was later found and the national anthem played as demanded.

An array of governmental officials including the President of Liberia, Hon. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and House Speaker Edwin Snowne attended in addition to the traditional dancers and unstoppable fans.

The first 22 minutes of the game started with ordinary soccer display and adjustment by both teams until the 25th minutes of the game when the Greek Francis Grandpa Doe headed home floating across from the leg of Dioh Williams. The first half ended with The Lone Star seated in a comfortable 1-0 lead. After the break, the Liberian side secured another goal in the 68th minute after Oliver Makor who plays for Ionikos in Greece netted the second goal with a terrific shot thereby securing the second goal.

The Rwandan team reconsolidated and filed pressure which resulted to a 79th minute goal from the head of Njirinshuti Moremmerien after a corner kick. Another Liberian professional, Dioh Williams of BK Hatan in Sweden scored the third goal in the match. Later in the 70th minutes, Oliver Karefi of Rwanda secured the second goal for his side with a free kick which beat Goal keeper Louis Cryton in the air. The Rwandans continue their pressure to equalize the score but were contained by The Lone Star.

Several goal attempts by Francis Doe, Dioh Williams, Oliver Makor and Anthony Lanfor proved fruitless due to complacency.