Following a historic representation of the country by some members of the Liberian Delegation to the 13th all African Games and the performance of the Lone Star against Djibouti recently, President Joseph N. Boakai has commended Liberian athletes for their performance in the pan African sporting event.
The President, according to an Executive Mansion statement issued recently, is also impressed with the Liberian National Soccer Team, the Lone Star, for their 2-0 win against the Djibouti Team in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco.
According to the release, the President expressed his gratitude and admiration to the athletes for their impressive performances, which helped promote Liberia’s image, as he conveyed his pride in the athletes who are primarily residents of the United States and had flown to represent Liberia in the continental games.
It furthered that the Liberian leader’s sentiments were conveyed through a special telephone conversation held with Malcolm Joseph, Head of the Liberian National Olympic Committee Delegation, who is with the athletes in Accra.
The Liberian athletes won four prestigious medals in various competitions, including track and field, table tennis, boxing, and taekwondo.
Liberian track and field athlete, Maia McCoy, received a silver medal, becoming Africa’s second-fastest woman after clocking 11.49 seconds in the 100-meter and 4X4 relay.
The Scrabble Squad won the second silver medal, while Liberia’s Grace Fahnbulleh won bronze in the women’s boxing category.
The President congratulated the athletes for their sacrifices and resilience, highlighting the meaningful day for the resurgence of the spirit of love and patriotism in Liberia. Regarding the Lone Star’s victory, the President welcomed it and urged Liberians to look forward to the return match with optimism and confidence.
The Liberia men’s senior national team, last Thursday, March 20, 2024, defeated Djibouti 2-0 in the first leg qualifiers of the Preliminary qualifiers of the 2025 African Cup of Nations that will take place in Morrocco. The team secured its first win after nearly two years, with New Head coach, Mario Marinica on the line, and the match was the first played under Boakai’s administration.
Two first half goals scored first from a penalty by Mo Sangare and a timely wide strike from Oscar Dolley, were enough to get the national team back to winning ways, with an advantage going into the second leg of the competition.
The Lone Star will welcome Djibouti in the return leg this Tuesday, March 26, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex practice pitch in Paynesville City, to finally decide who’s going to participate in the main qualifiers of the nations cup.
