12th July, 2012
President of the Liberia Football Association, LFA, Musa Bility, says he’s sure that the Liberian national soccer team, Lone Star, can beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify for the 2013 African Cup Nations finals in South Africa.
The Confederation of African Football, CAF, recently paired the Lone Star with the Eagles in the final rounds of the Nations Cup qualifiers on a home and away tie. The first leg is scheduled for 9 September at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville City outside Monrovia, while the second leg takes place in Nigeria on 12 October.
Speaking yesterday at the July edition of the LFA monthly conference, Bility said Liberia have skilful and talented players to beat Nigeria to qualify for Africa‘s biggest sporting event.
“There are no more big names in African Football. I am sure that the Lone Star of Liberia can beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria. With all due respect to Nigeria, we have beaten them before, and we can still beat them now,” the Liberia FA president stated.
Bility noted that the Liberia FA is currently negotiating with some top African countries to play a an international friendly match before the Nations Cup qualifier with Nigeria. Bility said the Lone Star will also begin an early preparation for the event.
Meanwhile, Ex-Green Eagles skipper, Chief Segun Odegbami, has tasked Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi to raise a squad that can silence the boastful Liberians. Odegbami is not worried about the match, saying that the Eagles have the players to beat their opponents.
Odegbami believes there should be no comparison between Nigeria and Liberia when it comes to football.
“Nigeria and Liberia? It is an insult to compare Nigeria with Liberia. No matter what has happened recently, the football world has not witnessed any major change. The top teams are still there. Look at the recently concluded Euro 2012, despite the failure of the Dutch and French teams and Spain’s overwhelming victory; teams such as Italy and Germany were still forces to reckon with.