Fading Hopes Looms as Liberia Draw 0-0 with Angola

Lone Star's striker Anthony Laffor outweighs Angola players in the second half of World Cup qualifiers in Monrovia on Sunday.


Written by Danesius Marteh
danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com


 
Monrovia - Liberia and Angola Sunday settled for an unbelievable goalless draw in Monrovia as match day two of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers continued across the globe.

With Europeans keeping an eye on the Uefa Euro 2012 championship in Poland and Ukraine, it was a busy weekend in Africa, South America and Oceania as the race for Brazil gets harder.

At the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS), Liberia coach Kaetu Smith and his technical staff made four changes to the squad that lost 3-1 to Senegal but those changes were just good on the paper.

Defenders Teah Dennis replaced the suspended Solomon Grimes who was red-carded in Dakar while Omega Roberts swapped for the injured Patrick Gerhardt Nyemah who dislocated his shoulder against the Teranga Lions.

Alseny Keita and Theo Weeks got James Zotiah as a helper in midfield while Zah Krangar partnered Dioh Williams and Francis Forkey Doe in attack but the duo missed a host of chances.

The Angolans, who were held 1-1 by Uganda in Luanda on June 3, sat deep and rarely took their opponents on the break, opting to play the aerial balls for Manucho.

But the ex-Manchester United player was well policed by defender Jimmy Dixon—an ex-teammate at Manisaspor in Turkey.Doe and Williams troubled their opponents time and again but they lacked the finishingtouches. In fact, Williams was guilty for missing what appeared to be the clearest of chances when he was found in space by defender George Gebro.

The BK Hacken striker stumbled along the way, regained position and skimmed past three defenders with only the goalkeeper at his mercy but he blasted his effort straight into the arms of the falling Landu Mavanga.

With half time looming, Smith substituted Zotiah for Sekou Jabateh-Oliseh but that was time wasting as center referee Ali Lemghaifry signaled for recess.

Back from the break, Smith again switched tactics with Krangar making way for the uninspiring Anthony Laffor to the disbelief of some fans.

Having sensed the changes, Angola dropped more men deeper with only Manucho rarely pressing forward.

Laffor, Doe, Oliseh and Williams interchangeably swapped positions with fewer chances being created but Angola held on for the vital away point that will count somehow and somewhere as match day three kick-off in March 2013.

Angola could have won the match when Bartolomeu Quissanga’s long range cross was headed by the towering Manucho but goalie Nathaniel Sherman came to the rescue.

That was by far their clearest chances on goal and they will leave for Luanda having accomplished their mission.

Police had to be on top of their game in containing angry fans who insulted Bility’s mother and demanded his resignation.

Senegal, who drew 1-1 with Uganda in Kampala on Saturday, lead Group J with four points.

Uganda and Angola are leveled on two points but the Cranes have a goal advantage ahead of the Palancas Negras while the Lone Star are bottom with a point.

Angola head coach Romeu Filemon, who sent under-17 goalkeeper coach Helder Miguel on a scouting mission to Dakar, was understandably delighted with the result.

“We came with two things on our mind. That is either a win or a draw and we got one. Liberia created some chances but were unlucky to score.

“Our game was to watch what we got [from Dakar] and see what our opponents are made off. We weren’t tactically good but our techniques worked well.

“A point away from home is good and we just have to take one game at a time,” said Miguel through an interpreter.

But coach Smith, who was disappointed with the result, thinks Angola were very efficient throughout the match.

“This was not the result we desired. We came to claim the three points but things didn’t go our way.

“We played against a team that was very efficient defensively. They were very good at counter-attack also. We tried to slow things down but it didn’t work.

“We tried to speed things up but it was the same thing. So this was a very close match,” Smith told journalists inside a noisy dressing room.

Meanwhile the former LPRC Oilers head coach is upbeat about their chances against Namibia.

The Lone Star take on the Brave Warriors in the second leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Windhoek on Saturday. Liberia won the first leg 1-0 at the ATS on February 29 but coach Smith believes qualification is in their hands despite a poor away record. “We can only hope for the best.

 The game is not about an ultimate qualification because if we win Namibia we will meet Senegal. “It is decisive because we are going to go to next round to meet Senegal. And I am sure about that,” he concluded.

As we made our way inside the dressing room, the playing pitch was invaded by angry fans and police was quickly called into action.

They had to be on top of their plan in containing the protesting fans who insulted the mother of LFA president Musa Bility and demanded his unconditional resignation as technical director Henry Brown watched in disbelief.

They had earlier interrupted an interview with deputy coach Kelvin Sebwe and jeered at him as police and other security guards took him away.

Coach Smith is tactfully absorbing the pressure with one defeat and a draw but his fate could be hanging on a thread especially after the Windhoek showdown.

Will he shake-up the squad that drew with Angola or recalled the defeated squad Senegal?

Only time will tell as the team leaves Monrovia on Wednesday.

Lineups

Liberia: 1-Nathaniel Sherman, 3-Teah Dennis, 4-Theo Weeks (12-Martin Karndu 70’), 5-Jimmy Dixon, 6-Omega Roberts, 8-Alseny Keita, 9-Dioh Williams, 15-Francis Forkey Doe, 17-George Gebro, 19-James Zotiah (10-Sekou Jabateh-Oliseh 43’) and 22-Zah Krangar (14-Anthony Laffor 60’).

Substitutes not used: 2-Marcus Macauley, 7-Perry Kollie, 11-Abraham Barshall, 13-Patrick Wleh, 16-Mulbah Urey, 18-Solomon Wesseh, 20-Galley James, 21-Herron Berrion and 23-Patrick Gerhardt.

Coach: Joseph Kaetu Smith

Angola: 22-Landu Mavanga, 2-Regio Congo Zalata (6-Manuel Da Costa

Gaspar 75’), 3-Antonio Dos Santos, 4-Masunguna Alex Afonso, 5-Kdoka Jeadot Kivuvu, 7-Djalma Abel Campos (14-Amandio Filipe Da Costa 82’), 8-Osvaldo Joao Diniz (20-Moises Miguel Jose 90+1’), 9-Mateus Contreiras Alberto, 15-Miguel Geraldo Guiami, 16-Adawa Mokanga and 17-Bartolomeu Quissanga.

Substitutes not used:, 10-Adriano Duarte Nicolau, 11-Gamaliel Mussumari, 12-Joao Da Silva, 18-Nkembo Garcia and 19-Isaac Correia Da Costa.

Coach: Romeu Filemon



Match officials: center referee Ali Lemghaifry, assistant referee #1Pene Cheikh, Dia El Hassane-assistant referee #2 and Thiam Amadou-fourth official.