Monrovia – The Lone Star of Liberia has been drawn into Group E of the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, facing tough opponents Algeria, Togo, and Equatorial Guinea.
After the draw held in South Africa, Liberia, under the guidance of new head coach Mario Marinica, discovered their challenging path to the 2025 Nations Cup in Morocco. Liberia is no stranger to these teams, having faced them in African football on several occasions.
Algeria vs. Liberia Liberia and Algeria have met six times in both World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers. They played to a 2-2 draw at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali. The last encounter saw Algeria thrash Liberia 5-1 in a friendly match in 2021, with current Lone Star captain Oscar Dorley scoring the consolation goal. Their first meeting was on February 28, 1999, in the AFCON qualifiers, ending 1-1 in Monrovia, followed by a 4-1 defeat for Liberia in the second leg on April 9, 1999. In the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Algeria beat Liberia 3-0 on June 6, 2008, and drew 0-0 in Monrovia on October 11, 2008.
Togo vs. Liberia Liberia and Togo have faced each other 17 times in competitive matches, with Togo securing nine wins, four draws, and four defeats. Their first match was on August 10, 1975, in the AFCON qualifiers, where Liberia lost 1-0 away and 2-0 at home. Liberia’s best run against Togo was from 1986 to 1995, with three consecutive wins. The most recent match on June 5, 2016, ended in a 2-2 draw after Liberia took a 2-0 lead at home but conceded a last-minute goal. The first leg in Togo ended in a 2-1 win for the hosts on June 14, 2015. This time, Liberia is determined to seek revenge and qualify for their third Nations Cup.
Equatorial Guinea vs. Liberia Liberia and Equatorial Guinea have faced each other four times, with each team winning once and drawing twice. Equatorial Guinea defeated Liberia 2-1 in the AFCON qualifiers on September 3, 2006, and played to a goalless draw on June 16, 2007. On November 20, 2023, Equatorial Guinea beat Liberia 1-0 in the World Cup qualifiers, but the result was overturned by FIFA due to the ineligibility of Equatorial Guinea striker Emilio Nsue. FIFA awarded Liberia a 3-0 win, marking their only recorded victory against Equatorial Guinea.
With the draw completed, Liberia is considered the underdog in Group E. Algeria and Togo are favored to advance, but football’s unpredictability could work in Liberia’s favor if they improve on recent results. Under Mario Marinica, Liberia has played five games, winning two, drawing two, and losing one.
According to CAF, the qualifiers will start in September 2024 and end in November 2024. The winner and runner-up in the eleven groups, excluding hosts Morocco, will qualify for the competition. The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the biggest sporting event in Africa, will be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
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