Liberia are in contention to qualify for their first ever FIFA World Cup and Wednesday's clash with Tunisia in 2026 World Cup qualifying will prove whether the Lone Stars are contenders or pretenders.
The nation that produced world football legend George Weah will host Tunisia at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Complex in Paynesville. A victory will move Liberia level with the Carthage Eagles on points in Group H where Namibia, Malawi and Equatorial Guinea are also determined to debut at the World Cup finals.
Group H Table (4 matches played)
Points | |
Tunisia | 10 |
Namibia | 8 |
Liberia | 7 |
Malawi | 6 |
Equatorial Guinea | 3 |
São Tomé and Príncipe | 0 |
The group winner qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Four of the nine group runners-up qualify for a playoff to determine Africa's representative at the intercontinental qualifying playoff.
But standing in the way is a Tunisia team that is known for its consistency and strong defense at this level. The North African nation has yet to allow a goal in its four matches so far and have qualified for the last two editions of the World Cup.
Liberia head coach Thomas Kojo is in charge after the recent departure of Romanian tactician Mario Marinică . A former defender who represented Liberia, Kojo has experience from prior stints as a caretaker coach and knows the squad well after leading the Lone Stars in African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying where they fell to Senegal by a 1-4 aggregate defeat in the final round. Kojo had a realistic perspective and did not guarantee anything but that the players will "give their best":
"It is a World Cup qualifier and we are at home...we are just trying to make sure we can get our players up to speed and be well organized in how we play tomorrow...we have been working very hard. So yes it is very important to know that we have to win and that is our plan. To make sure that we give our best and hope that the players will follow instructions and then the rest will fall in terms of the result. I believe we have players that will deliver on the day."
"We have been following (Liberian players playing abroad)...Solomon Tweh is playing very well in the Saudi Pro League. Bryant (Farkarlun) is doing well in MLS (for Austin FC)...we have been following...so I believe that in terms of conclusion in our training we will see how they can be accommodated but they will play a major part in our team."
The strength in the Liberian team falls in the center of midfield where the key battle will be fought. Captain Oscar Dorley plays for Czech powerhouse Slavia Prague and should partner with former English youth national team player Nohan Kenneh who plays for Ross County on loan from fellow Scottish Premiership club Hibernian.
Dorley and Kenneh will have their work cut out for them as that is where Tunisia is strong as well. Aïssa Laïdouni, who plays with Al Wakrah in Qatar, is a fierce competitor with strong technical ability as well. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Ellyes Skhiri is unavailable due to injury but there is no shortage of options for Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi who has EFL Championship players Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley FC) and Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City) to call upon as well as former Zamalek star Ferjani Sassi (Al Gharafa, Qatar).
What will give Liberia hope is the fact that their opponents are not as strong as previous editions of the Carthage Eagles. The options in attack have potential but most have yet to prove themselves for the national team. With a strong defense and central midfield, Tunisia will depend on the typical factors that help North African teams overcome sub-Saharan competition in African national team and club competitions: good defensive organization, tenacity, set piece proficiency and winning matches on small details that make the difference.
This is as good as it gets in terms of an opportunity to qualify for Liberia's first-ever World Cup finals. In a weak group that saw second seeded Equatorial Guinea forfeit their first two matches due to using an ineligible player, the Lone Stars have a chance to announce themselves as a serious candidate in Group H and this is the match where they can set the tone.
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