Liberia began their 2015 Orange AFCON qualifiers with a narrow 1-0 over the visiting Crocodiles of Lesotho on Sunday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia.
South Africa-based forward Anthony Laffor scored the lone goal on 40 minutes after a crispy pass from former CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder, Sekou Jabateh, now on loan at Greek club PAOK Salonika.
The captain took the ball around the Crocodiles penalty area and drove through to beat Lesotho goalkeeper Makhognae Kananelo before placing the ball in the lower left corner of the net just before half time.
Back from the break, Liberia enjoyed more ball possession and created several goal scoring chances but failed to get through the well-built Lesotho defence.
Lesotho striker Taale Thareplo reacted with beautiful free kick but the ball hit the crossbar twice, in what was the only moment the visitors came close to scoring.
Liberia only needs a draw to progress to the next stage of the qualifiers for the 30 th edition of the showpiece African football championship.
Liberian coach Thomas Kojo in a post-match interview said: “we won the game and the three points is most important. We need to improve and prepare physically, tactically and technically for the return leg in Lesotho. They (Lesotho) played well today and we expect a tough second leg”.
His Lesotho counterpart, Seephephe Matete observed: “It was good a result for us. When you are playing away, you lost 1-0, it is a good result. We have to win home.”
The Crocodiles of Lesotho will host Lone Star in return leg in a fortnight with the advancing to the second round to face either Kenya or Comoros.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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