Liberia Head Coach Defends National Team's Performance, Expresses Optimism for the Future

By: Albert Fania

The Lone Star of Liberia secured their place in the group stage of the 2025 AFCON qualifications after a goalless draw against Djibouti on Tuesday. The match, held at the SKD Sports Complex in Monrovia, saw the Lone Star advance on a 2-0 aggregate, having secured a comfortable victory in the first-leg in Morocco.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Djibouti put up a valiant fight and managed to hold the Lone Stars to a goalless draw. This is a historic feat for Djibouti as it is the first time ever that they did not concede a goal against Liberia. In their previous three meetings, Djibouti had conceded a total of eight goals against the Lone Stars.

On the other hand, Djibouti's struggle in front of goal continued as they failed to find the back of the net for the fourth consecutive time against Liberia. Their lack of offensive firepower has been a concern for the team and will need to be addressed if they want to make a meaningful impact in future matches.

For the Lone Star, this qualification is a significant achievement and a testament to their determination and hard work. They will now face tougher challenges in the group stage. The team will hope to build on this success and make a strong push for a spot in the 2025 AFCON tournament.
In an exclusive interview following a crucial qualifier match against Djibouti, Liberia's Head Coach Mario Marinica defended his players' performance and expressed confidence in the team's potential to achieve greatness in the future. When questioned by a sports journalist about the perceived dissatisfaction among Liberian fans regarding the game's outcome, Marinica showed unwavering support for his squad.

Coach Marinica acknowledged the differing opinions about the team's performance but emphasized that the players had performed admirably. He stressed the importance of solidarity and support for the national team, stating, "We have to support these players and congratulate them. These are the players that will make Liberia proud in the future.
When queried about the discontent expressed by some Liberian fans, the seasoned coach remained undeterred. Marinica adhered to his belief that Liberians were satisfied with the team's performance. He stated, "That's your opinion, but as far as I am concerned, Liberians are happy for today's qualifier against Djibouti." Coach Marinica seemed to emphasize the importance of supporting the players unconditionally, regardless of the immediate outcome.

Meanwhile Liberia has been placed in group with  Eswatini, Chad and South Sudan for the TotalEnergiesAFCON Morocco 2025 preliminary qualifiers.