Three months after setting an unbeaten league record by winning the 2016-17 Liberia First Division League to book a place in the 2018 Confederation of African Football Champions League, LISCR Football Club has been notified of its opponent in the preliminary round of Africa’s premier club competition.

In the draw held in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday, December 13, the Shipping Boys were drawn against one of Africa’s heavyweights, Al-Hilal of the Sudanese Premier League. The Liberian champions might have hoped to meet a team at their level in the preliminary round to have a less bumpy ride to the first round, but the draw against the North African giants has given them a lot to do if they are to cross the preliminary round.

Hilal has been one of the best club on the African continent that has not been fortunate enough to land the continental trophy. The North African side has made 31 appearances in the competition with five semi-finals finishes, losing out in the 1992 final to current champions, Wydad Casablanca of the Morocco Botola Pro League. Their most recent move toward the title was in 2015 when they were knocked out by USM Alger of Algeria in the semifinals.

Drawn against Hilal, a 27-time champion of the Sudan Premier league, is no doubt a mountain to climb for LISCR FC that will be making their third CAF Champions League appearance. However, while the Shipping Boys might not be financially strong like their counterparts to sign top notch players, they have shown themselves to be ready for the encounter with their high level of preparation in the ongoing off season.

Despite winning the league unbeaten, the Gardnersville-based club further strengthened their roster by signing 10 players after releasing a few members of the squad who had failed to make an impact during the season.

While on vacation in the Gambia, head coach Tapha Manneh signed a total of four high profile Gambians to beef up the squad. The former Gamtel boss acquired the signature of five-cap player of the Gambia senior national team, Bully Drammeh, who participated in the CAF Champions League with Gambian club, Real de Banjul; central defender Adama Sabally who won gold with the Gambia U-17 team in the 2009 U-17 African Cup of Nations; and central defender Harouna Jabang, who also plays as a central defender. Jabang was part of the Real de Banjul team that eliminated Liberia’s Barrack Young Controllers in the 2015 CAF Champions League preliminary round. Manneh also signed striker Mustapha Njie, who has been a key player on the home-based Gambian national teams.

Apart from the four Gambians, Manneh was able to acquire the services of 2016-17 LFA first division joint top scorer, Amadiah Kawah. The BYC trio of Mark Paye, Hilton Varney, and Kemoh Kamara were also signed. Additionally, Benjamin Doe, who was promoted from the feeder team of LISCR, Gardnersville Football Club, has been an addition to the club.

Ever since his arrival in the country from his two-month vacation in his native Gambia in October, Manneh has conducted several training sessions with his team and played several friendly matches against mostly lower ranked clubs.

With the level of preparation done so far, newly signed Gambian central defender Harouna Jabang is optimistic of LISCR advancing to the first round despite the weight of Al-Hilal and their huge fans base who regularly fill up their 70,000-seater stadium during matches.

“We can beat them even with their huge fan base,” the newly signed Jabang told LISCR media. “And surely, we can do it with the grace of Allah and with hard work.”

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley, Jr.