Monrovia – The hopes of Liberia’s national women’s football team, the Lone Star, to reach the final of the WAFU Zone A Women’s Cup were dashed on Thursday, May 29, 2025, following a controversial 1-0 defeat to defending champions Senegal in the semi-finals.
By: Christopher C. Walker | 0777898224 / 0886723075christopherc.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com
The loss—played out at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium in Nouakchott, Mauritania—has sparked widespread outrage in Monrovia, with fierce criticism directed at Gambian referee Assiatu Cisse, whose decision to award a second-half penalty to Senegal proved decisive.
The lone goal came from that penalty, a call Liberian fans and pundits say was unjustified and changed the outcome of what had been a tightly contested match.
Football lovers and national team supporters have taken to social media to denounce the officiating, demanding that the Liberia Football Association (LFA) file a formal complaint to WAFU and possibly the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“It was a clear injustice,” said one frustrated fan watching the match on her phone in central Monrovia. “The referee’s decision was baffling and it cost us the game. Our girls gave everything, but how can you compete when the odds are stacked by poor officiating?”
Liberia’s woes deepened when key midfielder Miatta Morris was shown a red card, reducing the team to ten players. While full details of the incident remain unclear, the ejection—along with the disputed penalty—further fueled the belief that the match was marred by questionable officiating.
This is not the first time Liberia has raised concerns over officiating in international competitions. The LFA has filed past complaints citing perceived bias and inconsistent refereeing in regional tournaments.
Thursday’s outcry suggests the Federation may again be compelled to act.
The defeat is especially painful given Liberia’s strong performance in the group stages, where the team earned a 3-1 win over Guinea-Bissau and held hosts Mauritania and tournament favorites Mali to 1-1 draws. Their spirited run had sparked hopes of a first-ever WAFU final appearance.
Instead, the Lone Star will now play for third place, while public attention remains focused on what many view as an unjust outcome. Calls are growing for the LFA to push for greater accountability and higher refereeing standards across WAFU competitions.
As the dust settles, Thursday’s match is poised to reignite long-standing debates over the quality of officiating in women’s football and the mechanisms in place to ensure fairness on the continental stage.
The post Liberia: Controversial Penalty Sinks Lone Star in WAFU Semi-Final appeared first on FrontPageAfrica.