Liberia's wild ride comes to an end
May 14, 2006
PRETORIA -- The long shot bid by the Liberian women's under-20
soccer team to participate in the world championships later this
year ended in emphatic fashion yesterday. The Nigerian national team
routed the Liberians, 9-1, in Abuja, Nigeria.
Earlier,
the Liberian women, who never before had played in international
competition, had upset Algeria, 3-2, and played Nigeria to a 1-1
tie. Nigeria now advances to the world championship in Russia in
August.
In Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, fans expressed shock at the
score. The team had become a symbol of hope for many Liberians, who
are emerging from 14 years of devastating war.
''The score is disgraceful," Alex Slewion, 42, an information
technology specialist, said in a telephone interview last night.
''But I think when the team comes back, we will applaud them, and
give them some respect. All is not lost. They had never competed
like this before, and we appreciate how far they had advanced."
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