IPNews-Freetown: Players of Liberia’s senior national team, ‘the Lone Star’, are said to be in fear ahead of today’s second leg of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers with the senior national team of Sierra Leone, following late yesterday evening ‘nasty attack’ on the Bus carrying the Liberian national team for pre-match practice.
According to report from the Sierra Leone capital, Freetown, the Liberian national football team players came under ‘nasty attack” from angry Sierra Leonean fans blaming Liberia for poor facility which cause their earlier defeat 3:1 on last Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at the Samuel K. Doe, sports stadium in Paynesville outside Monrovia.
The report stated that the attack occurred when players of Liberia’s football team arrived at the Siaka Steven Stadium, to conduct training sessions ahead of today’s match when angry fans began throwing stones and physically attacking members of the team.
In an interview this morning live from the Sierra Leone Capital Freetown, Sports Journalist Danesious Marteh , traveling with the team said authorities of both countries were working to bring the situation under control with strong commitment from the Sierra Leonean government of the full protection of the Liberian football team and Liberian fans currently living in Freetown.
Marteh said the members of the Liberian football team were still in fear considering this week’s xenophobic attack on Africans in South African.
It may be recalled, last week Monday, violent South Africans attacked Africans across South Africa, which sparked condemnation across the World.
Journalist Marteh stated that the government of Liberia has also filed a formal compliant to the World Football governing body FIFA on yesterday’s ‘nasty attack ‘, and are awaiting response before today’s match which is expected to take place at about 16:00 GMT.
Meanwhile, the Liberia Football Association (LFA) has expelled Tonia Tisdell from the national team squad due to indiscipline.
It means the 27-year-old winger will miss Sunday’s 2022 World Cup qualifier second leg against Sierra Leone in Freetown.
Tisdell replaced his namesake Terrance in the 71st minute on Wednesday as Liberia won the first leg 3-1.
Details of the exact reasons behind Tonia Tisdell’s expulsion have not been made public by the LFA.
The player told BBC Sport that he needs to study the decision fully with his family and lawyers before he makes a formal response.
Coach Peter Butler said his behaviour “had shown disrespect to the code of conduct, adopted by the LFA in July which was delivered to all players following their arrival in Monrovia.”
His club, Nea Salamis Famagusta, has been informed about his expulsion and a flight is being arranged for his return to Cyprus as soon as possible.
Tonia has 13 caps for Liberia, having made his debut in a goalless draw against Algeria in Monrovia in a World Cup qualifier on 11 October 2008.
This is the not the first time the LFA has expelled a player for disciplinary reasons.
Then captain Anthony Laffor and two others were expelled in June 2012, for “late arrival for practice sessions and constant boycott of camp”.
In September 2010, the LFA also expelled Francis Grandpa Doe, Dioh Williams and Dulee Johnson for violating camp rules which saw the trio miss Liberia’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Monrovia.
