By S. Siapha Mulbah
The host of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone ‘A’ CAF Women Champions League qualifiers, Determine Girls, have failed to win again, dealing their qualifying chances a lethal blow, after being held to a one-all draw during their match day two fixture.
The girls representing Liberia as champions of the Upper Women league and holders of the LFA Orange Cup, stand no chance of emerging out of their zone, talk less of winning the competition.
In two matches during the preliminaries, the Liberian Side conceded four goals and scored once, losing four points to the two teams currently topping the zone.
In a debut match for youngster Anita Davis between the goalposts for Determine Girls, the Liberian champions lost to the Malian Women football powerhouse AS Mande. Goalkeeper Davis conceded a brace from Oumou Kone and a goal from Maimouna Traore during the second half of the opening match at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in the City of Paynesville.
In their next match against AS Dakar from Senegal, Determine Girls were forced to a draw, despite scoring in 39th minute. Mabinty Kamara converted a penalty to put her side in front, sending Liberian fans and women football supporters into delirium all through halftime. After the recess, the host maintained dominance throughout the match, with Jackie Touah in goal making many spectacular saves.
She denied the opponents’ star player, Coumba Syllla, restoring hope that they could secure a win to stand a chance of qualifying for the continental women champions’ league for another season.
However, the defending champions’ hopes were dashed in the dying embers of the encounter, when the central referee sounded her whistle for a handball against Louise Brown, directly in the penalty box.
The visiting forward, Korka Fall, converted her spot kick via the right corner of the net, with goalkeeper Jackie inches away from making a save.
The draw means that their next game is nothing but a formality, a dead rubber which will have no effect on their fate.
