AWCON Qualifiers: ‘All is Not Lost’ Says Coach Lartey
Coach Robert Lartey providing instructions to midfielder Hawa Kpan.
Liberia women’s national team Head Coach Robert Lartey says “all is not lost”, despite his team’s 2-1 defeat against Senegal in the first-leg of the 2022 Women's AFCON qualifiers at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on Wednesday, October 20.
Mama Diop and Ewa Dihkate both registered a goal for Senegal in the 23rd and 85th minute, respectively, before substitute Lucy Kikeh fired home a masterful set piece to get a consolation in the 95th minute.
Diop, who missed out on scoring the opening goal in the 11th minute, headed home the opener from a corner kick after goalkeeper Massa Konneh came off her goal line, but failed to clear the ball out of the danger zone.
The women’s Lone Star came all out for an equalizer with midfielder Ruth Wisseh’s free-kick diverted over the crossbar by Senegal’s goalie followed by a missed header in the six-yard box by debutant Mimi Eiden. Midway through the first half, Senegal found the back of the net for the second time but was ruled for an offside, ending the first half 1-0.
However, Senegal made it 2-0 a quarter-hour to the end of the game when Diakhate capitalized on an error from defender Choice Tokpa before easily placing the ball in the bottom left corner of the goalpost. Liberia pulled one back after Kikeh was brought down at the edge of the penalty area before perfectly converting the set-piece. Despite the defeat, Coach Lartey insists that his team can still do better in the return leg scheduled for Tuesday, October 26 in Dakar, Senegal.
“We lost but all isn’t lost. We played well today and conceded through two slight errors. We’re going back to the drawing board to work on our mistakes and get ready for the return leg. We are confident we can turn it around”, Lartey told reporters after the game.
Lartey went into Wednesday’s match without several key players including Angeline Kieh, Agatha Nimeme (academic travel), Margaret Stewart (injury), and Jestina Wilson, who pulled out of the team due to her missing out on winning the Best Defender award from the just ended league season.