Kojo Blames Lone Star’s 1-0 Defeat on “Poor Finishing” Against Tunisia

Paynesville, Liberia: Liberia’s interim coach, Thomas Kojo, attributed the Lone Star’s 1-0 loss to Tunisia on March 19, 2025, to missed opportunities in attack and poor finishing. The defeat came after Tunisia’s early goal in the 4th minute, which ultimately decided the match in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Early Goal and Missed Chances Haunt Lone Star

In their FIFA World Cup Group H qualifier clash at the SKD Sports Complex, Liberia fell behind early with a goal from Hazem Mastouri of Tunisia. Despite dominating the match in terms of possession and attacks, the Lone Star could not capitalize on their chances, registering 121 attacks compared to Tunisia’s 81.

In the post-match press conference, Coach Thomas Kojo acknowledged the team’s struggles in front of goal. He stated, “We lost the first goal in the early-minute, and yes, it is true. Putting a team together is a lot of work, so we have a lot to do in terms of collectivity. We dominated the game, but we were poor in finishing. We will get back on training and work on the lapse.”

Liberia’s Current Standings in Group H

The defeat leaves Liberia with 7 points, sitting third in Group H. The outcome of upcoming matches between Namibia and Malawi could affect Liberia’s position. So far, Liberia has played five matches in the qualifiers, with two wins (one awarded), one draw, and two losses.

Looking Ahead: Lone Star’s Next Challenge

The Lone Star will return to action on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Round 6 against São Tomé and Príncipe at the SKD Sports Complex. Liberia will look to improve its standing in the six-team zone as they aim for a stronger performance. Tunisia currently leads the group with 13 points, followed by Namibia with 8 points in second place.