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Yes we are second in our division, but if the nations cup was today, we will be out because we do not qualify per the rules. The rules states that all first team in each division automatically qualify along with the best three second place finisher. Below are the standing for all second place teams as it is today:
Uganda 4 pts +3 goals
Eritrea 4 pts+1 goals
South Africa 4pts +1 goals
Mauritania 3 pts+2 goals
Senegal 3 pts +1 goals
Gambia 3 pts+1 goals
Benin 3 pts +1 goals
Liberia 3 pts 0 goals
Namibia 3 pts 0 goals
Gabon 3 pts -1 goals
Malawi 3pts -1 goals
Per the rules, the best three second place teams go. As you can see above, Liberia and Namibia are tie for the six spot. As it stands now; Uganda, Eritrea and South Africa are in (note the rules also say to break a tie, the tie teams will play each other in a play off and the best go thru).
For Liberia to make it the way I see it is that we need to fight to win our division and not settle for second place because by becoming second does not grantee a place. As you all know winning our division is not easy. To do so we need to win all of our remaining games which means beating Cameroon twice (away and at home). Maybe by drawing one of the Cameroon games and winning one may carry us thru but we can't depend on that. We have a very hard nut to crack, but we can do it if we focus and prepare well. I saw the DVD of the Rawanda game and our team is young and very talented. That team is a very good team.
LiberianSoccer.com will soon have the DVD on the web for sale, buy one and you will see what I am talking about, we have a very good team. However, I observed that we need to replace the left-back with Chris Gbandi and bring in Delee Johnson to help in the midfield. In addition, we should have George Gebro & Prince Daye coming off the bench to help in midfield and if possible settle our differences with Murphy Nagbe to help in the defense.
We put ourselves in this position. As George Gebro ASKED on star radio call-in sport show just before the Equatorial Guinea game "WHY WE DON'T LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKE?" Rightfully so, he was mad because we took basically a home base team to Equatorial Guinea.
Only three overseas players were invited for that game. That game was an easy three point for us and we did not take advantage of it, we took all local inexperience player for the match. As a result, it will hunt us to the end of the qualifier.
We would have had six point by now and only have to take one of the games against Cameroon and of course beat all other games and qualify. Instead, the Football House decided to use local players. What were they thinking?
To stand a chance, we need to win our remaining games, we are among the fourth place teams per the rules to qualify and that is not good enough. |
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