Liberia end barren spell

LIBERIA ended a three-match winless run when a 79th minute header from striker Christopher Jackson gave them a 1-0 win over Sierra Leone in a friendly international at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia on Monday night.

Jackson was introduced in the second half, replacing striker Mark Paye, and managed to use his height to head home a cross from Terrance Tisdell.

Liberia had lost their last match, a 0-1 defeat to Kenya, and were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Togo, having been thrashed 1-4 by Tunisia in Nations Cup qualifiers.

Both teams made few goal attempts in the first half with striker Paye getting the Lone Star’s only shot on target through a header.

With several calls from some Liberians for young players to be given the opportunity to showcase their talents on the national team, coach James Debbah’s 22 selected players for the match were dominated by home-based players, with 19 of them making the 22-man squad.

The 19 local players included Tommy Songo, Richard Llyod, Saah Nyumah, Fallah Sheriff and goal scorer Jackson all of LISCR FC; Nuwo Johnson, Alvin Maccornell, John Jayson, James Walatee, and forward Terrance Tisdell all from FC Fassel.

Seven players, including Prince Kennedy, Hilton Varney, Kemoh Kamara, David Tweh, Van Dave Harmon and Prince Saydee, are from champion club Barrack Young Controllers.

The other local players included defender Curtis Koon of Monrovia Club Breweries and striker Mustapha Lomell of Nimba United.

The match was also an opportunity for Spain-based goal- keeper Boison Wynney de Souza of Llosetense to make his debut for Liberia after he was introduced in the second half.

Varney Kallon of Kiatamba in India and Spartak Moscow’s forward Sylvanus Nimely, who started the match, but was later replaced by forward FC Fassel forward Tisdell, were the other foreign-based players that formed part of Debbah’s selection for the friendly.

Three of the 14 invited foreign based players were part of Debbah’s squad and the rest are expected home for the June 11 encounter in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Liberian international striker, William Jebor, who helped Wydad Athletic Cassablanca win the Moroccan top-flight championship this season, will lead the team in Harare.

He replaces Teah Dennis of Jordanian club Al-Ahli. — Sports Reporter/Agencies.