Determine Girls Bid Farewell in CAF Women's Champions League Qualifiers as LFA Raises Concern Over Harassment of Players

By: W. Roland James

Bo City, Sierra Leone: Liberia's representative at the 2024 CAF Women's Champions League qualifiers, Determine Girls fell short to secure a sport to the main tournament after narrowly losing to the Eagles of the Medina of Senegal in their final match on Sunday, August 11.

The Liberia Women's Football Champions, who were destining for a win to book a space in the 2024 CAF Women's Champions League hope fell under expectation as they lost 2-1 to their Senegalese counterparts, leaving for their elimination in the qualifiers.

Bountou Sylla put Determine Girls in the lead but the Eagles of the Medina responded to level the score in the first half and stood firm in the second half to double up and collect a win against the Liberian side at the Southern Arena Stadium in Sierra Leone.

Following the club's elimination from the qualifiers, the Liberia Football Association (LFA) raised concern over a reported harassment of the club ahead of their final match.

A video footage circulating and in the possession of K-News Sports has it that the camp of Determine Girls was invaded by some unknown individuals alleged to be Sierra Leoneans thereby causing players of the club to fall under intimidation.

Determine Girls who sat at the top of the WAFU Zone A table of the qualifiers with 6 points earlier to their last encounter, were in a tense race with Mogbwemo Queens of Sierra Leone at second place with a point difference, which some sports pundits have seen as a calculated attempt that has hampered the chances of Determine Girls from qualifying.

The Liberia Football Association has since issued a brief statement on its office Facebook Page highlighting the concern of harassment and vowing to engage the WAFU Zone A and the Sierra Leone Football Authority on the matter.

The Liberian FA stated: "The LFA has received information through a social media video on an alleged attack on the Liberia champions in Bo, which the football house is treating with extreme attention.

The LFA has contacted the Liberia Head of Delegation on the trip, Anthony Denuika, Sierra Leone Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson Bawoh, and WAFU Executive Director concerning the matter. 

Meanwhile, a delegation headed by the president leaves for Bo, Sierra Leone, early tomorrow morning to engage both WAFU and Sierra Leone on the matter".

Meanwhile, as the Liberian side bid farewell in the qualifiers, The Eagles of the Medina of Senegal emerged as champions of the WAFU Zone A CAF Women's Champions League qualifiers, and secured the top spot with 7 points (1 point ahead of Determine Girls) to qualify for the main tournament in South Africa.