Liberia head coach Ansu Keita believes they are heading to the Africa Cup of Nations after securing a dramatic 2-2 draw in the first game of his career as a senior national team coach.
Keita, who was promoted from the U17 set-up masterminded an incredible second-half comeback after Bafana were all over the visitors and it appeared to be a case of how many goals would be scored rather than questioning the result.
But Tonia Tisdell and Mohamed Sangare’s stoppage-time screamer secured a vital point to gave them a major advantage going into the game in Monrovia next week.
“It was a pleasure being in South Africa today, it was a tough game, very good game, South Africa are a very good side that plays very good football, but the game is about 90 minutes, yesterday I said it, it’s 90 minutes,” Keita said in the post-match press conference at Orlando Stadium on Friday.
“So we were here to compete and we have an advantage at home, trust me, we’re playing 12 against 11 in our home, we have our supporters with us, so South Africa, I wish the good luck when we play them.”
“My celebration has so many meanings, one this is my first international game as a head coach of Liberia in my career, [the] my first game of my career to play a good team like South Africa, it was our plan to get a draw here in South Africa, we knew it would be tough to win at home. We wanted a draw.
“And secondly I’m a Muslim, I was fasting today, it’s Ramadan, and I asked God to permit me to get a draw here, and when I got it, I celebrated and asked God thank you, I believe in my players so I celebrated with them too because I wanted them to fo the job they did.
“I was also happy back home because there were lots of critics, now I think the critics will back us, we’re moving forward, and this will be our first AFCON qualifier, going to Ivory Coast, for sure we’re going to Ivory Coast, Inshallah.”
The Lone Stars will take on Bafana in Liberia on Tuesday afternoon (14h00).
