MONROVIA, Montserrado – The head coach of Liberia’s national football team, Thomas Kojo, has invited 25 players for Lone Star’s African Nations Championship qualifiers against Senegal in July.

The African Nations Championship, commonly called CHAN, is a special tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football for players playing in the local leagues of African countries.

Kojo’s 25-man list was released by the Liberia Football Association via its official Facebook page less than week after the end of the 2019 Liberia Football Association first division league.

Among the 25 players called by Kojo are outstanding LPRC Oilers defender Sampson Dweh and LISCR FC young midfielder Armah Vaikainah, who are receiving their first summons for the national team. The duo caught the eye of Kojo after their spectacular performance with their respective clubs during the season.

Surprisingly, one of the best left-back, Daniel Woto of Barrack Young Controllers, was ignored by Kojo. Woto, who played his first season with the Go Blue Boys, proved to be among the best players in the league with his defensive work rate and scoring ability. Despite playing at the left-back position, he netted goals five times.

The return of Dirkir Glay and Isaac Pupo to the local league has paid off after the duo were recalled to the national team. Pupo last played for Liberia on May 18, 2014 in Liberia’s 1-0 win over Lesotho in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier while Glay returns to the national team after two years of absence. After failing to get contracted abroad, Glay returned to play for LISCR FC, where he won the FA Cup. Meanwhile, Pupo returned to be featured for a Watanga FC team that was one of the first division title contenders.

First division champions LPRC Oilers and FA Cup champions LISCR FC have the most invited players, with seven players being called from each club. The first division and FA champions are being followed by Barrack Young Controllers and Watanga FC with three players each while there is one each from Nimba United Football Club, Nimba Football Club, Monrovia Club Breweries, and second division clubs Muscat FC and Pags FC.

The 2019 first division and FA Cup top scorer Christopher Jackson and highest assist player Sam Jackson lead the list of invited players. LPRC Oilers’ goalkeeper Prince Wlame, who kept 14 clean sheets in the 2019 first division also made the list of players called, although there is no place for LISCR FC’s captain Tommy Songo. Also part of Kojo’s invited players for the CHAN qualifier are the second division top two scorers Mark Yallah and Mark Karley of Muscat and PAGS FC, respectively.

Full List of Players:

 

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.