In an impressive showcase of skill and determination, Liberia and Eswatini dominated their opponents in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, preliminary round matches.
Both teams secured commanding leads with splendid away victories on Wednesday, leaving their adversaries in awe.
The Lone Stars of Liberia, led by their captain Murphy Dorley, showcased their prowess as they triumphed over Djibouti in the opening leg held in Marrakech.
Dorley proved to be instrumental, scoring one of the two first-half goals that led to a decisive 2-0 victory.
The deadlock was broken by Mohammed Sangare, who confidently converted a penalty in the 23rd minute.
Dorley further solidified their advantage by calmly slotting home Sebastian Teclar’s cross just 12 minutes later.
Djibouti, despite their best efforts, struggled to match their illustrious opponents and were unable to breach the Lone Stars’ defense.
Liberia now takes two crucial away goals into the second leg, which will be held in Monrovia next week.
Meanwhile, Eswatini also celebrated a resounding victory as they demolished Somalia with a convincing 3-0 scoreline in the Moroccan city of El Jadida.
It was striker Sabelo Ndzinisa who stole the show, netting two goals on either side of Felicio Figuareido’s 40th-minute opener for the visitors.
With such a dominant display, Eswatini has effectively positioned themselves with one foot in the group stage qualifiers.
As for Somalia, they now face a daunting challenge in their quest to qualify for the subsequent stages of the tournament.
Their uphill battle will continue when they travel to the Mbombela Stadium in the South African city of Nelspruit for the return leg, which is scheduled for March 26th.
The opening leg victories have undeniably put Liberia and Eswatini in a commanding position, giving them a substantial advantage as they aim for a coveted place in the group stage and, ultimately, the road to Morocco’s finals next year.
