Aiming to thrive after overcoming coaching upheaval

The Liberia national team has faced its fair share of off-field issues over the past couple of years

- STEVE MENARY

Liberian football is finally looking forwards after a tumultuous period wracked by changes in coaching personnel.

The Lone Star failed to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco but finished strongly in 2026 World Cup qualifying, only missing out on second place in their group on goal difference. That seemed unlikely this time two years ago, when head coach Ansumana Keita left after a run of six consecutive defeats led to death threats from angry supporters. His replacement was Romanian Mario Marinica, who had led Malawi to the last 16 of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon and brought in his former assistant, British coach Clwyd Jones. “The Liberians said in no uncertain terms that we need to get beyond the preliminary stage of the AFCON,” Jones, who is based in Southampton, tells