Lone Star Meets Sudan On March 26 In Khartoum

By Wleh Bedell

 In preparation of their weighty clash with the Scorpions of Gambia in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers on May 30^th, the senior national team of Liberia the Lone Star will face  Sudan’s Sokoor Al-Jediane on March 26, as both sides take full advantage of the FIFA approved date for international friendly matches.

 The Chief Scribe of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), George Wah Williams, disclosed this to liberiansoccer recently in a brief telephone conversation.

 
 Flashback: Liberia v Cameroon - Amadou Ahidjo Stadium – Yaoundé

 Mr. Williams indicated that all the modalities are already being worked out for the duel slated for Khartoum, which would be the first test for Liberian new German Coach Antoine Hey.

 When quizzed as to who were some of the players expected to feature for the Lone Star that is on its way to recovery after an abysmal outing in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Mr. Williams noted: “The selection of players is not in my purview but that of the coach and I would therefore not name any player for the planned match.”

  Liberiansoccer is confident  Ben Teekloh ( Farul Constanta – Romania), George Gebro (Ethnikos Achnas - Cyprus), Dioh Williams (AGF Aarhus – Denmark), Dulee Johnson (AIK Solna – Sweden), Alex Nimely-Tchumeni (Manchester City Youth – England), Sam Wowoah (Orebro SK – Sweden), Murphy Nagbe (PSMS Medan – Indonesia), James Lomell (PSMS Medan – Indonesia),  Zah Krangar (Swriwijaya FC – Indonesia),, Jimmy Dixon (Malmo FF – Sweden) and Isaac Pupo (Karabakh SC – Azerbaijan),  Solomon Grimes ( Ethnikos FC – Greece), Chris Gbandi (FK Haugesund – Norway), will feature in this international friendly.

  If the match goes on as scheduled, it would be the third meeting between Liberia and Sudan in recent memories.  In 2000, Liberia and Sudan were paired in the same group alongside Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.

 This crunch tie also brings back fond memories of the sacking of the then Lone Star Coach Kadallah Kromah after Liberia was whipped 2-0 in Khartoum.

 Coach Kromah sacking was mainly based on the fielding of striker Sam Chebli who was not invited for the match but got a start when he was spotted in Sudan where he was plying his trade.

 In the corresponding fixture, Lone Star won with similar score line with goals from Kelvin Sebwe and George Weah and it can be recalled the entire country was mourning the sudden death of former Youth & Sports Minister Francois Massaquoi.

 Liberia is ranked 145 in the March 2008 FIFA ranking and drawn in Group 6 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

 Other members of Group 6 are Gambia, Algeria and Senegal. Sudan is 108 in the same FIFA ranking and is drawn in Group 10 along with Mali, Congo and Chad. Sudan greatest ranking ever was 82 in October 1996 and Liberia best was 66 in July 2001.

 
Sudan's Mustafa Haitham - MTN CAN Ghana 2008 - ©Photo: MTNfootball

 Sudan recently ended their 32 years wait in the doldrums when they participated in the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations where they ended with a wooden spoon finishing in the last spot in the 16 team- classic.

 The Sokoor Al Jediane of Sudan was the only team that fielded an entirely local squad made up of two local rivals – Al Hilal and Al Merreikh and was managed by Mohammed Abdallah, a local coach.

 Probable lineups:

Liberia – 4-3-3 :  Sunday Seah, Solomon Grimes, Chris Gbandi, Murphy Nagbe, Jimmy Dixon, Ben Teekloh, George Gebro (Captain), Dulee Johnson, Alex Nimely-Tchumeni, Sam Wowoah, Dioh Williams.

 TACTICS:

Back Four: Solomon Grimes, Chris Gbandi, Murphy Nagbe, Jimmy Dixon
Middle Three: Ben Teekloh, George Gebro (Captain), Dulee Johnson
Front Trinity: Alex Nimely-Tchumeni, Sam Wowoah, Dioh Williams

 Sudan: -  4-4-2 : Mahjoub El Moez, El Tayeb Mosa, Ali Khidir Mohammed, Yousif Hado Alaedin, Jasten Lado Ritshard, Ahmed Gilbril Alaedin, Mustafa Karar Haitham (Captain),  Kamal Tambal Haytham, Babiker Ala Eldin, El Dod Abdalla Badr Eldin, Damar Kuku Amir