The Lone Star of Liberia delivered a hard-fought 2-1 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe in a tense World Cup qualifying match at home, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the global tournament.
A lively Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex erupted in cheers as Liberia struck early, with Nicholas Andrews and Jimmy Bryant Farlarlun finding the net in the first half. The quickfire goals set the tone for what many hoped would be a dominant performance. However, São Tomé fought back, pulling one goal back and testing Liberia’s defense in the second half.
Liberia’s head coach, Thomas Kojo, praised his team’s early intensity but acknowledged that there is still work to be done.
“This was a vital and well-deserved win,” Kojo told reporters after the match. “The boys stuck to the plan, but we saw some areas where we need to improve. Overall, I’m encouraged by what we showed today.”
São Tomé’s coach admitted his young squad was outmatched but emphasized his team’s long-term vision. “We’re building for the future,” he said. “Today’s result isn’t our main focus, development is.”
While the victory pushed Liberia up to third place in their qualifying group with 10 points, just two behind second-placed Malawi, some supporters expressed frustration over the team’s second-half performance.
“We started strong but let them back into the game,” said one fan. “Against a team like São Tomé, we should’ve been more dominant.”
Others, however, remained optimistic. “A win is a win,” said another supporter. “Three points at home is what we needed. If we keep this up, we can still finish strong in the group.”
With four matches left in the qualifiers, Liberia’s next test comes in September 2025. For now, the Lone Star can celebrate a crucial victory, one that keeps their World Cup dreams burning bright.
