Liberia edge Niger to reach WAFU Cup Plate semis

Liberia beat Niger 1-0 in the Plate quarterfinals of the 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations at the Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal on Sunday.

It was an exciting start to the game with Niger winning a penalty in the eighth minute after Idrissa Halidou was pulled down inside the box by goalkeeper Alpha Jalloh.

Halidou stepped up to take his own spot-kick, but saw his weak attempt saved by Jalloh.

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In the 15th minute Goumey Boubacar almost scored for Niger when a well-worked passing move saw him in space 16 yards out, but his thunderous shot was brilliantly tipped around the post by the keeper.

A couple of minutes later the Menas were on the attack again with Amadou Harouna driving into the box from the right, but he fired his low powerful shot just past the post from 14 yards out.

Liberia, who also looked lively in attack, took the lead in the 26th minute after some great individual play from Kelvin Potis as he beat two defenders on his way into the box before rifling the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out to make it 1-0.

It was an afternoon to forget for Halidou who saw himself substituted in the 32nd minute for no apparent reason other than his poor decision making in the final third.

A minute later Liberia nearly doubled their lead when Terry Sackor met a left-wing cross from Potis, but his ten-yard header came off the crossbar.

The half ended 1-0 in favour of the Lone Stars.

Niger came out strong at the start of the second half and went close to equalising matters on the hour mark when Victorien Adebayor showed great skill to turn and shoot inside the box, but his 16-yard attempt was touched over the bar by the keeper.

Jalloh was at his best yet again in the 75th minute, this time denying Mohamadou Souley a header from point blank range after the latter got onto the end of a right-wing cross.

The game ended on a horrible note for the Menas with Abdoul Ibrahim shown a straight red card in the 89th minute for slapping Karleo Anderson in the face as Niger exit the tournament.

Liberia will now face Guinea in the semifinals of the Plate competition on Oct. 9.