Liberia vs Togo live

Liberia hosts Togo in the very crucial AFCON qualifying match on 13th November 2024 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium. However, Togo is clinging on by a thread, hoping to make the cut as Liberia has already been kicked out of the running. This Group E match represents both sides' chance to flex muscles and show some form as Liberia attempt to restore some pride while Togo is trying to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Read also: Namibia vs Cameroon

Match Background and Stakes
All in all, this AFCON campaign has been challenging for Liberia. The Lone Stars remained dead last in Group E with just one point, effectively being knocked out of the 2025 AFCON qualifying tournament. Having gotten just one point from their first two games, it simply means that they have not found a good run for their qualifying campaigns, losing successively in the last matches against Equatorial Guinea, slaying whatever hope they had of advancing to the next round of qualifications. The last time Liberia was at the tournament was back in 2002, after which they had continuous struggles through the qualifiers. While they have enjoyed relative success lately, especially with the competitive position they have assumed in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers, they have not been able to turn that into success in the AFCON Qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Togo is just hanging by a thread. The Sparrowhawks currently sit third in Group E with two points and thus need to win against Liberia to keep alive any semblance of hope for qualification. But the victory alone might not be enough to ensure their progress, as Togo will also have to rely on the outcome of the other group fixtures. A defeat or a draw with Liberia would technically rule them out, hence this promises to be a high-stakes encounter for coach Dare Nibombe's side.

Recent Form and Team News
Liberia have blown hot and cold within recent times. While defeats in a series of AFCON qualifiers have not given the Lone Stars much to hope for, in other recent tournaments they have shown flashes of promise. Under interim coach Thomas Kojo, Liberia has recorded some good results-for instance, beating Sierra Leone to qualify for the African Nations Championship. Across all competitions in the last 11 matches, the Lone Star has lost just three times, and those were all in this AFCON qualification process.

Home, however, has not been that glittering. They have won just once in their last six home games, drawing two and losing three to complete the remainder. Kojo will be relying on the recent call-up of MLS talent Bryant Farkarlun, who has joined the national setup after a great season with Austin FC. Other key call-ups include Terrence Tisdell and Swedish-born Justin Salmon, each of whom last played for Liberia in a March 2023 match-up against South Africa.

Probable Liberia starting lineup to include:

Koulibaly; Dweh, Balde, Kamara, Swen; Teclar, Teah, Tisdell, Farkarlun; Dorley; Ernest

Togo Recent Form and Team News
Equally, Togo's passage in AFCON has been bumpy. After losing 5-1 to Algeria in the third round of games, they got their acts together and showed a far more disciplined display in the reverse fixture, narrowly losing 1-0 to a penalty goal by Algeria's Ramy Bensebaini. Both results underlined Togo's mixed form-strong at times but fragile in holding consistency.

Togo has lost only three of their last 16 matches in all competitions, but they have been struggling on the road, with just two wins in their last 12 away from home. Nibombe's side must overcome these challenges if they hope to gain an important victory in Monrovia. Unfortunately, injuries and suspensions have plagued Togo ahead of this matchup. Out of the 25 called-up, only 12 had arrived in Liberia by Monday, and key players such as Mansour Ouro-Tagba and Khaled Narey failed to feature due to club obligations and personal issues, respectively.

Togo's potential starting lineup:

Goalkeeper: Barcola
Defenders: Amevor, Boma, Boateng, Fofana
Midfielders: Aholou, Agbagno, Aziangbe, Karim
Forward: Klidje, Denkey

Key Players to Watch
Liberia: Bryant Farkarlun
Making his debut for Liberia, Farkarlun brings an injection of fresh attacking talent into the team. An agile, creative forward who can find the net, the Austin FC man enjoyed a remarkable season in MLS NEXT Pro with four goals and nine assists. Farkarlun's talents as a playmaker will go a long way in attempting to break down the Togo rearguard as the Lone Star seeks a positive outcome in Monrovia.

Togo: Kevin Denkey
The forward Kevin Denkey is one the mainstays of the Togo team because his aggressive intent inside the box is always there to terrorize any defense physically and with his goals. Kevin Denkey might prove to be the difference-maker for the Sparrowhawks, considering how much Liberians leak goals. His ability to find free space inside the box and utilize his scoring opportunities will prove vital for Togo as they try to get all three points.

Tactical Approaches
Liberia's Strategy
Under coach Thomas Kojo, the Liberians have preferred a balanced approach, marrying defensive resilience with swift counter-attacks. At home, there might be a bit of a leaning toward an offense-oriented play where more possession is sought in order to open up chances through the creative influence of Farkarlun and pace of players like Tisdell and Teah. The midfielders of Liberia will be very key, especially Dorley and Teclar, in sabotaging Togo's buildup plays and transitioning play upfront.

Togo's Strategy
Dare Nibombe's Togo has been a lot more organised and filled with banks of defenders, especially in recent games against powerful sides like Algeria. Given how limited they are going forward, Togo is going to be compact at the back and try to score from set pieces and swift counter-attacks. Denkey will lead the line in their attack, supplemented by wide players such as Karim, who can whip crosses into the box. The midfield of Togo would also be put to work for the latter not to dominate the tempo of the match.

Head-to-Head Analysis
Traditionally, matches between Liberia and Togo have been closely contested. The reverse fixture in the ongoing qualifying campaign finished 1-1 in that regard, making this contest a tight-knit affair in most cases. The head-to-head records have slightly favored Togo, whereby in the five meetings that they have had over the years, they managed to win two, whereas their opponents, Liberia, managed to win one, and two matches between these teams ended in draws. Since this is going to be a very important encounter between the two teams, they will highly go into this match motivated, whereby Togo will look to extend their dominance, whereas Liberia will hope for a rare victory that may boost their record at home.

Prediction For The Match
This match will be closely contested, also considering recent form on both sides and the roster challenges with Togo. Liberia's inconsistent home performances and Togo's subpar away record make it tough to actually decide on a favorite in this case. Whereas Liberia will see the advantage of familiar territory, probably Togo's experience and desperate need to win will add an extra layer of tenacity to their game.

Prediction: Liberia 1-1 Togo
With both sides going the length to ensure victory, the limit in form and depth may well be a cause for another stalemate. Togo's rear guard would come into critical examination, and with Liberia gaining from their home ground advantage, they may net one or two. The match could easily end in a draw as both teams show pretty even capacities.

Betting Insights and Tips
Betting enthusiasts would find a draw or a low-scoring game a safe bet, seeing the current flow of defense for both sides. Under 2.5 goals is another decent wager to consider. Bryant Farkarlun's first-ever selection for an anytime goal scorer is somewhat enticing for bettors who like to wager on individual players, given his form in MLS NEXT Pro.

Conclusion
This match between Liberia and Togo is expected to be combative as well as competitive, with Togo seeking to keep their qualification hopes alive, while for Liberia, it will be a case of playing for pride to give the fans back home a show worth remembering. With both sides competing in heated manner, this may just be the making of an intense showdown.

Whichever the result is going to be, this fixture gives both teams an opportunity to round off their AFCON qualifying campaigns with some sort of statement. Football lovers will be expecting thrilling action between two resilient African nations.