Is this George Weah's last fling?
2002-01-27 14:37
Bamako - Liberian legend George Weah will seek to prolong his international career by leading the 'Lone Stars' into the African Nations Cup quarter-finals in a do-or-die group A decider against Nigeria on Monday.
Weah, who has said he will quit international football at the end of the tournament, knows that Liberia will most likely need to pull off an upset over the 'Super Eagles' to progress.
Nigeria lead the group A standings with four points going into the final round of games, and Shaibu Amodu's erratic squad will secure a place in the last eight with only a draw.
Hosts Mali, meanwhile, who are level with Liberia on two points, are expected to record the win they need over Algeria in Monday's other match to advance to the second phase.
That means all eyes are likely to be on Liberia's showdown with Nigeria in Mopti, 650 kilometres north of the capital Mali, where former AC Milan star Weah and his team have some old scores to settle.
Nigeria pipped Liberia at the post for a place in the World Cup during last year's qualifiers, shattering Weah's dream of playing in the global football showpiece before the end of his career.
Now the Nigerians stand on the brink of sending Weah into an unhappy retirement unless the Liberian player-coach and his team-mates can conjure up victory.
Weah is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task facing Liberia, who were denied a crucial full three points on Friday when Algeria scored an injury-time equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw.
"It's going to be do or die against Nigeria," said Weah. "We're going to give everything we've got to beat them," added the former world and African footballer of the year.
Liberia's task has been made even more difficult by the absence of talismanic defender Zizi Roberts, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament against Algeria and is out through suspension.
Nigeria's coach Amodu has his own problems, meanwhile, the main one being how to maintain consistency from a squad containing some of the most talented footballers in Africa.
Impressive in their opening match against Algeria, when they 1-0 but created chances to have scored several more, Nigeria were held 0-0 by Mali in their second match last Thursday.
Having controlled play against the Algerians, Nigeria at times looked in danger of being overrun by the home team, regarded as no-hopers before the competition began.
Once again, the interest surrounding Amodu's team against Liberia is likely to focus on attack.
So far Schalke 04's Victor Agali has been disappointing, and Arsenal's Nwankwo Kanu had a quiet game when he was given his first start against Mali.
Nigeria only started to look threatening in attack when Julius Aghahowa was switched from the right midfield to centre-forward, the 20-year-old's searing pace worrying the Mali defence. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA