Lone Star Keeps CAF-FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Hope Alive

By: Roland James

The Lone Star of Liberia on Sunday, June 9, sustained her hope in the CAF-FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a hard-earned win against Sao Tome in Morocco.

The 1-0 win over Sao Tome has moved Coach Mario Marinica's side from 4th to 3rd place in Group H with 7 points accumulated in four games so far.

Both sides rocked the first half nail-nail before Lone Star picked up the late-minute winner from Sheik Sesay in the 90th minute at the Stade Municipal D'Oujda Stadium in Morocco.

Liberia has honored four games so far in the ongoing CAF-FIFA World Cup qualifiers with wins 2, lost 1, and draw 1. The Red, White, and Blue have a game left with Tunisia to conclude the 1st leg phase, before rolling over for the 2nd leg phase with all group members.

Liberia is paired in Group - H with Tunisia, Malawi, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, and Sao Tome, with two teams qualifying from each group. The group winner will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the runners-up will go to a place-off.

Tunisia and Namibia currently sit at first and place with 10 and 8 points respectively, as the Lone Star is striking to catch up one of the qualifying spots with 7 points from the third place.

The win marked Coach Mario Marinica's fourth official match for the Lone Star, managing two wins and two draws, a performance of the national team under his administration that many sports lovers have begun to admire.

The British-Romanian Born Coach signed a two-year contract with the Liberia Football Association key mandates to qualify Liberia for the 2025 AFCON and progress for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.