Liberia secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe on Sunday in Group H of their 2026 World Cup qualifier, thanks to a late goal by Sheikh Sesay.
The win, in the first match of Matchday 4 of the qualifiers, moves the Lone Star to third in the group with seven points, while Sao Tome and Principe remain at the bottom without any points after four matches.
The first half saw both teams struggle to find a breakthrough, with few clear-cut chances created. Sao Tome and Principe’s Denilson Silva was booked for a foul just before halftime, which ended goalless.
The second half continued in a similar vein, with Liberia making several substitutions to inject fresh energy into their side. Peter Wilson and William Gibson were brought on early in the half to replace Lawrence Kumeh and Sheku Sheriff, respectively.
As the match progressed, it seemed destined for a draw, with both teams battling hard but unable to convert their efforts into goals. Sao Tome and Principe also made several substitutions, bringing on Eba Viegas and João Silva to replace Rogério Fernandes and Mauro Vilhete.
In the 89th minute, Sao Tome and Principe’s João Silva received a yellow card for a foul, highlighting the physical nature of the contest.
Liberia then made a decisive change, bringing on Sheikh Sesay for Terry Sackor. The substitution proved to be a masterstroke.
In the 90th minute, Sesay found himself in the right place at the right time, slotting a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the goal, giving Liberia a dramatic late lead.
Despite a late push from Sao Tome and Principe, Liberia held on to secure the three points. This victory propels Liberia to third place in Group H, ahead of their next match, while Sao Tome and Principe will need to regroup after another disappointing result.
Second-placed Namibia will host group leaders Tunisia later on Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash, while Equatorial Guinea and Malawi are set to face off in the other Group H match on Monday.
