MONROVIA, Montserrado – The national team of Liberia will begin its fight for qualification for a continental competition for the third time in history when they take on Mauritania on Friday, July 14 in the first round of the African Nations Championship.

Commonly referred to as CHAN, the championship is a national football competition in which countries can use only players that are playing in a country’s domestic league.

The Confederation of African Football has divided a total of 48 national teams into six zones according to their regional affiliations. Liberia is being placed in Zone A, along with Mali, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Mauritania.

Lonestar has previously played in two Africa Cup of Nations competitions where they failed to cross the group stage. That more prestigious competition does allow a country to use its foreign-based players as well. They made their debut at the continental stage at the 1996 Nations Cup hosted by South Africa, before making their second appearance six years later at the 2002 Nations Cup hosted by Mali.

Playing in the group stage of the CHAN competition might not be as important as playing in the Nations Cup, but it will serve as a major boost for a country that has failed to reach the group stage of a major continental competition since 2002.

Liberia will take on Mauritania in a two-leg encounter, and will play either Gambia or Mali in the second-round if only they get past Mauritania in round one. The match will be played on Sunday, July 16 at the newly renovated Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.

According to a release from the Liberia Football Association, a total of 26 players has been selected by national team head coach James Debbah for the crucial match at home. The team has begun intensive preparations at the George Weah Technical Center in Careysburg, Monsterrado.

Full List of Players Invited:

Goalkeepers

Tommy Songo- LISCR FC

Abdulai Koulibaly- Monrovia Club Breweries

Arlington Sengbe- BYC FC

 

Defenders

Alvin Marconnel-FC Fassell

Aloysius Simujla- FC Fassell

Nuwo Johnson- FC Fassel

Carlos Williams- Watanga

Malaikai Cooker- Watanga

Daniel Woto- LISCR FC

Dirus Kai- LISCR FC

Richard Lloyd- LISCR FC

Prince Balde- Monrovia Club Breweries

Kemoh Kamara- BYC FC

Midfielders

Terrance Tisdell – FC Fassell

John Jaysay- FC Fassell

James Wlatee- FC Fassell

Prince Saydee- BYC FC

David Tweh_ BYC FC

Saah Nyumah- LISCR FC

Curtis Koon- Monrovia Club Breweries

Kelvin Potis- Watanga

Wilton Ninneh- Nimba United

Forwards

Van-Dave Harmon- BYC FC

Mark Paye- BYC FC

Christopher Jackson- LISCR FC

Mustapha Lomell- Nimba United

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley