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Liberia national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Liberia women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Liberia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) The Lone Stars
Association Liberia Football Association
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach Mario Marinică
Captain Oscar Dorley
Most caps Joe Nagbe (77)
Top scorer George Weah (18)
Home stadium SKD Stadium
FIFA code LBR
First colors
Second colors
FIFA ranking
Current 150 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 66 (July 2001)
Lowest 164 (October–November 2010)
Elo ranking
Current 120 Increase 8 (3 March 2019)
Highest 67 (March 2001)
Lowest 151 (February 2009)
First international
France Ivory Coast 0–2 Liberia 
(Abidjan, Ivory Coast; unknown date 1954)
Biggest win
 Liberia 5–0 Djibouti 
(Monrovia, Liberia; 29 March 2016)
Biggest defeat
 Ghana 6–0 Liberia 
(Accra, Ghana; 6 April 1975)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances 2 (first in 1996)
Best result Group stage (1996 and 2002)

The Liberia national football team, also known as the Lone Stars, plays for Liberia in international men's soccer games. The Liberia Football Association manages the team.

Even though Liberia had a famous player, George Weah, who was named the 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, the team has never made it to the FIFA World Cup. They have only qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 1996 and 2002. Liberia is part of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Team History

African Cup of Nations

Liberia first tried to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in 1965. They lost their first game 0–1 to Ivory Coast. They did win one game 3–2 against DR Congo but were still knocked out early.

In 1967, Liberia played in the 1968 qualification games. They tied 2–2 with Guinea and also tied with Senegal. However, they lost their other games and were eliminated. Liberia returned to qualifying in 1976 but lost to Togo in the first round.

After some time away, Liberia joined the AFCON qualifiers again in 1982. They tied both games against Gambia but lost because of the away goals rule. This rule means the team that scores more goals away from home wins if the total score is tied.

Liberia did not play in the 1984 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. But in the next tournament, they got their first win in qualifying, beating Mauritania 3–1 in the first game. Sadly, they lost the second game 3–0 and did not move forward.

Later, Liberia played against Sierra Leone (for 1988) and Mali (for 1990) but could not qualify. In 1992, Liberia pulled out of the qualifiers, possibly because of the First Liberian Civil War. In 1994, they were in a group where two teams, Tanzania and Burkina Faso, also pulled out. But Liberia still finished with zero points after losing twice to Ghana.

In the 1996 African Cup of Nations qualification, Liberia had a great run. They won three games (against Togo, Tunisia, and Mauritania) and tied four. This helped them finish second in their group and qualify for their first-ever African Cup of Nations tournament!

In the 1996 tournament, Nigeria withdrew, so Liberia was in a group with Gabon and Zaire. Liberia started strong with a 2–1 win over Gabon. Kelvin Sebwe and Mass Sarr Jr. scored the goals. But they lost 2–0 to Zaire. This meant Liberia finished last in their group and did not move to the next stage.

Liberia almost qualified again in 1998 but missed out by just one point. In 2000, they beat Niger in the early rounds. However, they still did not make it to the main tournament, finishing behind Algeria due to goal difference.

For the 2002 African Cup of Nations qualification, Liberia beat Cape Verde in the first rounds. Then, they finished first in their group, qualifying for the main tournament for the second time! In the 2002 African Cup of Nations, Liberia tied their first game 1–1 with Mali, with George Weah scoring. They also tied their second game 2–2 against Algeria, thanks to goals from Prince Daye and Kelvin Sebwe. But in their last group game, they needed to win against Nigeria but lost 1–0. This meant they did not move on.

FIFA World Cup

Liberia first tried to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 1966. However, they, along with 14 other African nations, pulled out. They were protesting because they felt there were not enough spots for African and Asian teams.

Liberia next entered World Cup qualifiers in 1982. They played against Guinea and lost 1–0 over two games, so they were eliminated. In 1986, Liberia was again knocked out without scoring any goals, losing 4–0 to Nigeria.

In 1990, Liberia won their first World Cup qualifying match, beating Ghana. This helped them move to the second round. They finished second in their group, just two points behind Egypt, and could not reach the final qualifying round.

For the 1998 World Cup, Liberia beat Gambia in the first round. But they finished far behind Tunisia in their group. In 2002, Liberia had their best qualifying campaign. However, a loss to Ghana in one of their last games allowed Nigeria to pass them and take the only qualifying spot.

Team Look

Kit Suppliers

This table shows the companies that have made the Liberian team's uniforms over the years.

Kit provider Period
Denmark Hummel 1990–1993
Italy Diadora 1994–1995
Germany Adidas 1996–1998
Liberia Weah Sports 1999–2001
Unknown 2002
Germany Adidas 2003–2004
Denmark Hummel 2004–2006
Italy Kappa 2006–2008
Germany Adidas 2008
Singapore Kubba 2009
Germany Adidas 2010–2012
Italy Erreà 2012
Indonesia SPECS 2012–2013
Spain Joma 2013–2014
Germany Adidas 2015–2020
Germany Puma 2021–present

Recent Games

Main article: Liberia national football team results (2020–present)

Here are the results from Liberia's games in the last year, and any upcoming matches.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2023 Matches

2024 Matches

Coaching Staff

This table shows the current coaching staff for the team as of February 2024.

Position Name
Head coach Romania Mario Marinica
Assistant coach Liberia Kelvin Sebwe
Assistant coach Liberia Harold Gbotoe
Goalkeeping coach Liberia Chris Wesseh
Fitness coach Liberia Desmond Mulbah

Coaching History

Here is a list of past coaches for the Liberian national football team. Caretaker managers (coaches who fill in temporarily) are shown in italics.

  • Liberia Josiah Johnson (1971–78)
  • West Germany Bert Trautmann (1978–80)
  • Brazil Paulo Campos (1986)
  • Liberia Walter Pelham (1986–1990)
  • Liberia Wilfred Lardner (1990–1998)
  • Liberia Kadalah Kromah (1999–2000)
  • France Philippe Redon (2000–02)
  • Liberia Dominic George Vava (2002)
  • Liberia Kadalah Kromah (2002–04)
  • Liberia Joseph Sayon (2004–06)
  • Egypt Shawky El Din (2006)
  • Liberia Frank Jericho Nagbe (2006–08)
  • Germany Antoine Hey (2008–09)
  • Hungary Bertalan Bicskei (2010–11)
  • Italy Roberto Landi (2011–12)
  • Liberia Thomas Kojo (2012)
  • Liberia Kaetu Smith (2012)
  • Liberia Frank Jericho Nagbe (2013)
  • Liberia Thomas Kojo (2013)
  • Liberia James Debbah (2013–17)
  • Liberia Thomas Kojo (2018)
  • England Peter Butler (2019–2022)
  • Liberia Ansu Keita (2022)
  • Liberia Thomas Kojo (2022–2023)
  • Liberia Ansu Keita (2023)
  • Romania Mario Marinica (2024–present)

Players

Current Squad

These players were chosen for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification games against Togo and Equatorial Guinea in September 2024.

The number of games played (caps) and goals scored are correct as of September 9, 2024, after the game against Equatorial Guinea.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Tommy Songo (1995-04-20) 20 April 1995 (age 30) 23 0 Liberia LISCR
1GK Abdulai Koulibaly (1995-01-01) 1 January 1995 (age 30) 7 0 Liberia Global Pharma
1GK Teddy Kollie (2005-11-10) 10 November 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Liberia Watanga
2DF Sampson Dweh (2001-10-10) 10 October 2001 (age 23) 28 0 Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň
2DF Kemoh Kamara (1995-07-03) 3 July 1995 (age 29) 20 0 Liberia Bea Mountain
2DF Sabastin Teclar (2000-02-28) 28 February 2000 (age 25) 6 0 Liberia LISCR
2DF Natus Jamel Swen (2004-11-18) 18 November 2004 (age 20) 5 0 Malta Mġarr United
2DF Philip Tarnue (2005-12-25) 25 December 2005 (age 19) 3 0 Liberia Watanga
2DF Nelson Laomie (2005-04-04) 4 April 2005 (age 20) 1 0 Liberia Watanga
2DF Musa Sesay (2007-02-08) 8 February 2007 (age 18) 0 0 Liberia LPRC Oilers
3MF Oscar Dorley (captain) (1998-07-19) 19 July 1998 (age 26) 42 3 Czech Republic Slavia Prague
3MF Mohammed Sangare (1998-12-28) 28 December 1998 (age 26) 21 3 Switzerland Bellinzona
3MF Divine Teah (2006-04-19) 19 April 2006 (age 19) 14 2 Sweden Hammarby
3MF Nohan Kenneh (2003-01-10) 10 January 2003 (age 22) 12 0 Scotland Hibernian
3MF Chauncy Freeman (2001-07-26) 26 July 2001 (age 23) 6 0 Liberia Watanga
3MF Abdulai Bility (1999-09-08) 8 September 1999 (age 25) 4 0 Liberia Heaven Eleven
3MF Lawrence Kumeh (2005-05-01) 1 May 2005 (age 20) 4 0 Liberia Paynesville
3MF Sheku Sheriff (1999-09-17) 17 September 1999 (age 25) 3 0 Liberia LPRC Oilers
3MF Quiah Sholee (1997-04-07) 7 April 1997 (age 28) 1 0 Liberia Invincible Eleven
4FW Peter Wilson (1996-10-09) 9 October 1996 (age 28) 16 2 Norway Jerv
4FW Terry Sackor (1993-04-01) 1 April 1993 (age 32) 9 1 Liberia Bea Mountain
4FW William Gibson (2007-11-22) 22 November 2007 (age 17) 6 1 Liberia Heaven Eleven
4FW Emmanuel Ernest (2000-12-30) 30 December 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Switzerland Aarau
4FW Emmanuel Seih (2006-10-11) 11 October 2006 (age 18) 0 0 South Africa TS Galaxy

Recent Call-ups

These players have also been called to play for the team in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Emmanuel Deanneh (1995-06-20) 20 June 1995 (age 30) 1 0 Liberia Bea Mountain v.  Djibouti; 26 March 2024
GK Ashley Williams (2000-10-30) 30 October 2000 (age 24) 19 0 Liberia LISCR v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
GK Boison Wynney (1996-12-27) 27 December 1996 (age 28) 7 0 Romania Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
DF Mark Pabai (2000-09-30) 30 September 2000 (age 24) 10 0 Slovenia Koper v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 9 June 2024
DF Joachim Adukor (1993-05-02) 2 May 1993 (age 32) 6 0 Malta Sliema Wanderers v.  Djibouti; 26 March 2024
DF Jamal Arago (1993-08-28) 28 August 1993 (age 31) 11 0 Libya Al-Ahly v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
DF Joel Johnson (1992-09-20) 20 September 1992 (age 32) 10 0 United States Charlotte Independence v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
DF Seth Hellberg (1995-08-19) 19 August 1995 (age 29) 12 0 Sweden Brage v.  Morocco, 17 October 2023
MF Sheikh Sesay (2002-10-24) 24 October 2002 (age 22) 1 1 Botswana Gaborone United v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 9 June 2024
MF Marcus Macauley (1991-10-27) 27 October 1991 (age 33) 28 5 Malaysia PDRM v.  Djibouti; 26 March 2024
MF Edward Ledlum (1999-06-15) 15 June 1999 (age 26) 10 0 Liberia Bea Mountain v.  Djibouti; 26 March 2024
MF Tonia Tisdell (1992-01-02) 2 January 1992 (age 33) 18 1 Egypt Telecom Egypt v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
MF Brem Soumaoro (1996-08-08) 8 August 1996 (age 28) 12 0 Canada York United FC v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
MF Albert Korvah (1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 (age 26) 5 0 Nigeria Rivers United v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
MF Mohammed Kamara (1997-10-31) 31 October 1997 (age 27) 4 1 Israel Hapoel Haifa v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
MF Prince Saydee (1996-02-20) 20 February 1996 (age 29) 3 0 United States Hartford Athletic v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
MF Saah Moses Jr. (2007-07-10) 10 July 2007 (age 17) 2 0 Liberia Discoveries SA v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
FW William Jebor (1991-11-10) 10 November 1991 (age 33) 27 13 Iraq Al-Minaa v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
FW Kpah Sherman (1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 (age 33) 22 3 Malaysia Pahang v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
FW Sylvanus Nimely (1998-09-04) 4 September 1998 (age 26) 12 0 Uzbekistan Surkhon v.  Equatorial Guinea; 20 November 2023
FW Abu Kamara (1997-04-01) 1 April 1997 (age 28) 9 0 Malaysia Kuching City v.  Morocco, 17 October 2023

Team Records

Players whose names are in bold are still playing for Liberia.

Most Games Played

Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Joe Nagbe 77 0 1986–2011
2 George Weah 75 18 1986–2018
3 Kelvin Sebwe 62 10 1988–2008
4 James Debbah 58 13 1986–2018
5 George Gebro 48 1 1997–2012
6 Anthony Laffor 46 5 2004–2018
7 Teah Dennis Jr. 44 1 2011–2019
Oscar Dorley 44 3 2015–present
9 Varmah Kpoto 40 1 1997–2008
10 Fallah Johnson 37 0 1995–2004
Zizi Roberts 37 9 1995–2003

Top Goal Scorers

Coppa UEFA 1992-93 - Napoli vs PSG - George Weah
George Weah is Liberia's top scorer with 18 goals.
Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 George Weah 18 75 0.24 1986–2018
2 William Jebor 13 27 0.48 2011–present
James Debbah 13 58 0.22 1986–2018
4 Kelvin Sebwe 10 62 0.16 1988–2008
5 Zizi Roberts 9 37 0.24 1995–2003
6 Oliver Makor 8 32 0.25 1995–2008
7 Prince Daye 7 25 0.28 1996–2004
Jonathan Sogbie 7 27 0.26 1988–1998
9 Zah Rahan 6 35 0.17 2006–2017
10 Francis Doe 5 22 0.23 2004–2016
Isaac Tondo 5 22 0.23 2000–2005
Dioh Williams 5 24 0.21 2004–2016
Marcus Macauley 5 28 0.18 2011–present
Anthony Laffor 5 46 0.11 2004–2018

Tournament History

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup Record Qualification Record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 to Chile 1962 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
England 1966 Withdrew Withdrew
Mexico 1970 to Argentina 1978 Did not enter Declined participation
Spain 1982 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 0 1
Mexico 1986 2 0 0 2 0 4
Italy 1990 8 3 3 2 4 3
United States 1994 Withdrew during qualifying 2 0 1 1 2 4
France 1998 Did not qualify 8 2 1 5 7 12
South Korea Japan 2002 10 6 1 3 11 2
Germany 2006 12 2 1 9 6 29
South Africa 2010 6 0 3 3 4 12
Brazil 2014 6 1 1 4 3 9
Russia 2018 4 1 1 2 4 6
Qatar 2022 8 3 0 5 8 10
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 4 2 1 1 5 2
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total — 0/15 – – – – – – 72 20 14 38 54 94

Africa Cup of Nations

See also: Liberia at the Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations Record
Appearances: 2
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Sudan 1957 Not affiliated to CAF
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962
Ghana 1963 Did not enter
Tunisia 1965 Did not qualify
Ethiopia 1968
Sudan 1970 Did not enter
Cameroon 1972
Egypt 1974
Ethiopia 1976 Did not qualify
Ghana 1978 Did not enter
Nigeria 1980
Libya 1982 Did not qualify
Ivory Coast 1984 Withdrew
Egypt 1986 Did not qualify
Morocco 1988
Algeria 1990
Senegal 1992 Withdrew
Tunisia 1994 Did not qualify
South Africa 1996 Group stage 13th 2 1 0 1 2 3
Burkina Faso 1998 Did not qualify
Ghana Nigeria 2000
Mali 2002 Group stage 9th 3 0 2 1 3 4
Tunisia 2004 Did not qualify
Egypt 2006
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012
South Africa 2013
Equatorial Guinea 2015
Gabon 2017
Egypt 2019
Cameroon 2021
Ivory Coast 2023
Morocco 2025
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027 To be determined
Total Group stage 2/34 5 1 2 2 5 7

Honors

These are the awards and achievements of the Liberian national football team.

Regional Awards

  • WAFU Nations Cup
    • Third place (1): 2011
  • West African Nations Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 1987
  • CEDEAO Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 1987

See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Liberia para niños

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