Titi Camara
    

       CONAKRY (September 8, 2002 4:51 p.m. EDT) - Guinea celebrated its return to international soccer by beating Liberia 3-0 in their opening African Nations Cup qualifier on Sunday.

     Guinea's Titi Camara, who plays for West Ham, opened the scoring after just 57 seconds with a 10-meter shot after a pass from Souleymane Youla.

     Guinea had to wait until nine minutes into the second half before doubling its lead when Fode Mansare scored after Abdoulaye Sylla stormed through the Liberian defense on the left.

     A 25-meter shot by Ibrahima Sory Conte in the 69th minute sealed the victory for Guinea, which is now top of group two after Niger defeated Ethiopia 3-1 in Niamey on Saturday.

     Liberia, which last year went within a whisker of edging out Nigeria in the race for a World Cup place, appears to have yet to recover from the departure in January of George Weah - the only African to have won the World Footballer of the Year award.

    The match, played in Conakry's September 28th stadium, marked Guinea's return to international action after it was expelled by FIFA last year following a row with the government over the independence of the national soccer association.

     The game, which drew more than 35,000 fans, was also politically charged because of tension between the two West African countries, which accuse each other of backing rebel groups waging war in the diamond-rich region near their border.