Despite Defeat: …Liberia U-20 Female Team Shows Promising Sign In Gambia

Liberia will have a lot to take from its recent international women football U-20 friendly as the visitors were defeated 3-2 in their first of two encounters at the Independence Stadium in Banjul held on 6, August in the Gambia.
The women football friendly was arranged between the Gambian FA and the Liberian Football Association (LFA) to provide exposure to the youthful female teams from both countries.
The double-legged encounter organized for August 6 and 9 was initiated particularly to test the skills of the girls in preparation for further international competitions as well as to create a platform for the respective female national teams to showcase their talents.
Unarguably, the match was Liberia’s first female international friendly in decades and first under the Mustapha Raji led administration. The pronouncement from the FA following the finalization of arrangements for the two-legged encounters, was greeted with joy by women football stakeholders and it was regarded as a major step taken towards the growth and development of women football in Liberia.
Though defeated 3-2, the Lone Star U-20 female team was very impressive after the visitors took the lead in the sixth minute when Agatha Nimene converted a clinical free-kick just outside the 18-yard box.
Under the tutelage of Coach Robert Lartey, Liberia dominated proceedings after the goal, with Nimene again coming close on two occasions.
But defender Catherine Jatta leveled for Gambia in the 28th minute with a brilliant free kick.
Gambia took the lead four minutes later when Captain Aminata Camara hit the net with another set piece.
Liberian goalkeeper Komassah Sumo, who had made two brilliant saves before the goal, struggled to take hold of the ball as it dropped straight in the net.
The Hippopotamus goalkeeper quickly realized that the Gambians were determined to use set pieces to score more goals as she began to coordinate well with her defensive quartet of Hawa Kpan, Marie Flomo, Lucy Massaquoi and Miatta Morris.
It did little as Gambia got the third goal in the 70th minute through Fatou Sonko.
Though she appeared to be offside, referee Mustapha Ndow and second assistant Sainabou Cham allowed the play to continue to the annoyance of the Liberian bench.
Things went out of hands when Ndow disallowed Paulinho Agbotsu’s goal.
Although Agbotsu was pushed from the back, she used her speed and skill to score but Ndow called for a foul and gave a marching order to goalkeeper Matty Manga. Agbotsu had won the hearts and souls of Liberians, who turned out to watch the match.
Minutes after the incident, the floodlights went off after two of the four added on minutes had been played but the lights came on and play resumed.
The determined and robust female under-20 went on to reduce the tally after substitute Love Koffa relied on a blunder from Gambian goalie Fatou Sowe to score.
Liberian players were also reduced to 10 men when Ndow wrongly red-carded Hawa Kpan instead of Lucy Kikeh, who was involved in a scuffle with an opponent.
A minute of silence was observed for Gambia international Peter Bonu Johnson, who died at 56 on 28 July and was laid to rest on 5 August.
The last pairing will come alive on Friday at the same venue at 6:00PM.
Line-ups
Liberia: 16-Komassah Sumo (goalie), 5-Marie N. Flomo, 27-Loretta B. Sackie, 22-Lucy Massaquoi, 4-Francisca Howe (captain), 20-Hawa Kpan, 6-Agatha Nimene, 12-Sylvia Pyne, 10-Elizabeth Tamba (7-Love Koffa 45′), 17-Miatta H. Morris (Lucy Kikeh), 11-Paulino Agbotsu
Unused substitutes: 19-Regina Nyanford, 3-Lucy Kikeh, 13-Success Gaye, 2-Jenneh Tisdell, 8-Winnie B. Dorbah, 1-Lorpu Forkpah
Gambia: Matty Manga (goalie) (Fatou Sowe), Fatou Fatty, Bintou Cessay, Saju Duganda, Neneh Jallow, Haddy Wally (Kumbah Kuyateh), Mam Drammeh, Aminata Camara, Catherine Jatta
Unused substitutes: Aminata Darboe, Penda Dolley, Fatou Sowe, Fatou Sonko, Kumba Kuyateh, Fatoumata Sowe, Abie Colley, Yaawa Jaru.