Broos: We can’t underestimate Liberia

COACH Hugo Broos has warned the Bafana Bafana squad that they will be facing a highly-motivated Liberia, who has been promised huge cash incentives to win their upcoming Afcon qualifiers.

News reports coming out of the West African country are that the Liberia Football Association (LFA) want to see their national team qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in January and February next year.

They have drawn up a comprehensive plan over the past few months to support the team, including offering cash incentives.

When the news of the LFA’s incentives reached Broos, he felt lowly Liberia could be motivated to try punching above their weight in the two upcoming fixtures.

Liberia are ranked 150th in the world, and Bafana Bafana slot in at 67.

The first clash will be on Friday at the Orlando Stadium (6pm kick-off) and the next fixture will be on Tuesday (6pm kick-off) at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in Monrovia.

Broos feels the carrot the LFA have dangled has attracted several of the country’s foreign-based players who ply their trade in Scotland, Sweden, England, Norway, Switzerland, Egypt and Malta.

“Two tough games are waiting for us,” Broos told the media at FNB Stadium. “You can see what efforts Liberia has put in, in the last months, and it shows they are ambitious.

“They have prepared their national stadium to conform with Fifa rules, because last year they played their home game in Morocco. Now we must go to Monrovia.

“I have also heard that their foreign players want to play for the national team again, and that was not the case before.

“I have also heard a rumour that the bonus they will get to qualify is enormous. It means we will have a team against us that will be motivated, and it’s up to us to not underestimate them.

“I think it will be the biggest mistake that we can make to underestimate them.

“The only thing I think we can do is to look into ourselves. We have more quality, and this is not a guarantee that we are going to win, but it is an advantage.”

Liberia opened their Afcon qualifying campaign against Morocco in June last year and went down 2-0. Because their national stadium failed to meet CAF specifications, their home match was played in Morocco.

The Lone Stars also played five other fixtures last year, and failed to chalk up a win, while managing a draw.

Earlier this year, the LFA sacked Thomas Kojo and appointed Ansumana Keita in his place. Keita is a former national team member and played in the Spanish second division.

Keita’s trump card will be the well-travelled striker William Jebor.