Liberia’s senior men’s national football team, the Lone Star, has once again fallen short of qualifying for the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking a bitter disappointment for the country that has been absent from the continental football festival for 24 years.
Despite the country’s proud football history and the legacy of George Weah, the only African player to win the Ballon d’Or (1995), Liberia will not be represented at AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
This marks the continuation of a troubling trend for the Lone Star, who have not qualified for the tournament since their last appearance in 2002.
The final blow came on Sunday when Liberia was handed a heavy 5-1 defeat by Algeria in Algiers, in the last match of Group E in the ongoing qualification series.
The Lone Star had shown early promise in the match, with Sampson Dweh scoring a stunning goal in the 6th minute, putting Liberia ahead.
However, Algeria quickly regained control, responding with five unanswered goals to seal the win and their place in the tournament.
Despite the early lead, the match revealed the deep struggles Liberia has faced throughout the qualification campaign.
With only one win and one draw from their double-legged encounters with Togo, the Lone Star failed to secure the necessary points to advance, finishing last in Group E.
Their losses to Equatorial Guinea and Algeria proved too much to overcome.
The qualifiers were marred by instability, with several changes in the coaching staff and player rotations, making it difficult for the team to find consistent form.
Interim coach Thomas Kojo, who took over after the departure of Coach Ansumana Kromah, had hoped the team’s momentum from their recent 1-0 victory over Togo would carry them through to a strong finish.
However, the defeat in Algeria was a harsh reminder of the challenges Liberia continues to face on the continental sporting stage.
