Liberia’s U-20 Women’s National Team, under the guidance of head coach Famatta Dean, delivered a confident and disciplined performance to defeat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in their WAFU Zone A U-20 Women’s tournament opening clash on Tuesday.
By Christopher C. Walker christopherc.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com
The young Lone Star ladies showed early intent, breaking the deadlock through Makasia Saryon, whose composed finish handed Liberia a deserved lead and set the tempo for the encounter.
A cooling break midway through the first half did little to disrupt Liberia’s rhythm, as the team maintained its structure and control.
Their dominance paid off again when Olive Nyumah doubled the advantage with a clinical strike, giving Liberia a comfortable 2-0 cushion heading into halftime (45’+2).
Despite the lead, Coach Dean’s message remained clear to maintain focus and discipline until the final whistle.
In the second half, Liberia made tactical adjustments to manage the game. Dalphine Glao replaced Gloria Karyah, while Patience Konah came on for Bendu Yantay.
Later, goal-scorer Nyumah made way for Yassah Gwaikolo as the coaching staff successfully rotated the squad.
Guinea-Bissau attempted to mount a comeback, but Liberia’s defense remained resolute.
Goalkeeper Makula Konneh stood tall between the posts, producing a crucial save to deny the hosts and preserve the clean sheet.
Liberia had chances to extend their lead further, with captain Louise Brown missing a notable opportunity, but the miss proved inconsequential.
After four minutes of added time, the referee’s final whistle confirmed a well-earned 2-0 victory for Liberia an outcome that underscores the team’s growing cohesion and tactical maturity under Coach Dean.
Speaking after the match, Coach Dean praised her players’ discipline and execution but cautioned against complacency:
“I’m proud of the girls. They followed instructions and showed great character today. But this is just one step we have to stay focused and keep improving. The tournament is not over, and there is still a lot of work to do.”
Goalkeeper Makula Konneh was named Woman of the Match as Liberia defeated Guinea-Bissau 2–0 in the opening match of the 2026 WAFU-A Women’s U-20 Championship in Bissau.
The result marks another positive step for Liberia’s U-20 women as they continue to build momentum in the sub-regional competition, with Coach Dean steadily shaping a side capable of competing at the highest levels in West Africa.
