It was a tense evening at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Complex in Liberia as the national football team, Lone Star, faced off against Tunisia in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier. Despite a valiant effort, Liberia fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat, leaving fans heartbroken but proud of the team’s fighting spirit.
The game started on a tough note for the hosts. Just four minutes into the match, Tunisia’s Hannibal Mejbri intercepted a pass in Liberia’s half and quickly set up Mastouri, who slotted the ball into the net. The early goal gave Tunisia the lead and set the tone for a challenging night for Lone Star.
Liberia’s goalkeeper, Tommy Songo, emerged as a hero early on, making a stunning save in the 11th minute to deny Tunisia a diving header. His efforts kept the team in the game and gave the home crowd something to cheer about.
As the match progressed, Liberia began to find their rhythm. In the 14th minute, Solomon Tweh tested Tunisia’s goalkeeper, Aymen Dahmen, with a powerful long-range shot, but Dahmen was equal to the task. The hosts continued to push forward, with players like Divine Teah, Bryant Farkarlun, and Ayuoba Kosiah leading the charge. However, breaking through Tunisia’s solid defense proved to be a tough challenge.
Liberia had a strong penalty appeal in the 29th minute when Bryant was brought down inside the box, but the referee waved play on, much to the dismay of the home fans. Kosiah also came close to scoring later in the first half, but his effort was thwarted. Tunisia, on the other hand, nearly doubled their lead just before halftime when Naïm Sliti’s shot rattled the crossbar.
The second half saw Liberia come out with renewed energy. Divine Teah set up Edward Ledlum for a close-range shot, but it narrowly missed the target. Tommy Songo was once again called into action, making a crucial save to keep Tunisia from extending their lead.
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Liberia struggled to find the back of the net. Tunisia’s defense held firm, and the visitors nearly sealed the win in the dying minutes when Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane missed a golden opportunity.
The final whistle blew with the scoreline reading 1-0 in favor of Tunisia. The result leaves Tunisia at the top of Group H with 12 points, while Liberia remains on 7 points. The team will now shift their focus to their next match against São Tomé and Príncipe, where they’ll aim to bounce back and keep their World Cup dreams alive.
After the match, stand-in coach Thomas Kojo praised his team’s performance, acknowledging their struggles in front of goal but expressing optimism for the future. “The team is young, and they need time to produce the results we want,” he said.
While the loss was disappointing, Lone Star’s determination and fighting spirit were evident throughout the match. The team may have fallen short this time, but their performance showed promise, and fans can look forward to brighter days ahead.
For now, the focus is on learning from this experience and coming back stronger in the next game. After all, in football, as in life, it’s not over until the final whistle blows.
