Cape Verde Eliminates Liberia From AFWON Qualifiers

Monrovia-  Liberians  walked from the Samuel K. Doe sports complex on Tuesday with disappointment Tuesday,  following the female national team elimination from the African Women’s Nations cup qualifiers.

By: Christopher C.Walker christopherc.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com 0777898224/0886723075

Liberia suffered a  3-2 defeat on home soil to Cape Verde who secure a 6-2 aggregate win over their Liberian  counterparts on Tuesday who lost the first leg in Cape Verde 3-0.

Coming into the game Liberia was under pressure, having  lost 3-0 in the first leg and needed a 4-0 victory at home to advance to the next round of the qualifiers.

The  away Cape Verde got off to a good start  in Monrovia  in the 10th minute of the match when  Eveline Nadine Pereira Varela opened the scoring.

But that was short lived, as Dalphine Glao  equalized in the 12th minute   after a decent run down the flank by Mimi  Janice Eiden who  provided  the assist for Glao.

Pauline  Agbotsu  had the chance to give Liberia the lead after   great feet work  but her effort was powerless  to beat the  visitors keeper.

However, Cape Verde regained the lead in the 23 minutes of the match   after a set piece that was poorly defended by the Liberians  and their keeper  Jackie Touah  was responsible for the goal as she kept under the bar allowing visitors to scor from close range.

 Liberia’s captain  Lucy  Massaquoi  in the  36th minute give away the ball  in the box as the visitors wasted no time to  increase their lead through Kleydiana Borges ending the first half 3-1 to the away side.

Back from the break Liberia  took control of the game but was unlucky to hit in the equalizer.

Mimi Eiden was a real threat to the Cape Verdeans side but the God of football was not on her side to register her name on the score sheet.

Liberia was awarded  a penalty in the 76th minute for a handball in the box and was converted by  Hawa Kpan.

Liberia  pressurize Cape Verde for the equalizer but couldn’t as the match ended 3-2 to Cape Verde who advanced from the tie on a 6-2 aggregate.

Cape Verde  will now play Nigeria in the second round of the qualifiers.

But speaking during a pre-match press conference Liberia coach  Selam Zeray Kebede  reiterated her commitment to building  a strong and competitive national team that can compete with other African nations.

She said her  concentration in on the long-term project.

When asked what was the difference between the two sides, the Ethiopian said the   Cape Verdeans were good physically, mentally and they have a fantastic team.

But she guaranteed  progress and assured Liberians of achieving a proper women’s national team with and support.

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