Africa-Press – Liberia. Liberian league champions FC Fassell kept their CAF Champions League hopes alive after holding Algerian giants MC Algers to a goalless draw on Saturday, September 20, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
In front of a sellout crowd, the “Soccer Missionaries” pushed forward but found no breakthrough against the seasoned North African side. The stalemate leaves the preliminary round tie wide open ahead of the decisive second leg on Saturday, September 27, in Algeria.
The result, however, was historic it marked the first time a North African club has drawn on Liberian soil. Since 1988, when Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces edged Invincible Eleven (IE) 1-0 at the SKD, North African sides had either defeated Liberian clubs or suffered defeat themselves. Clubs such as Mighty Barrolle, Barrack Young Controllers, LISCR, and Monrovia Breweries had previously humbled North African opposition, but never had a visiting side left with a draw.
Hope from History
Despite failing to score, Fassell can draw inspiration from past Liberian exploits. Invincible Eleven remain the only Liberian club to have secured a draw in North Africa a 0-0 stalemate with Royal Armed Forces in Rabat on May 8, 1988. That piece of history, coupled with Saturday’s performance, leaves Fassell with plenty of belief heading into the return leg.
Kuoh: “We Are Ready for the Challenge”
FC Fassell departed Liberia on Monday, September 22, via Accra, Ghana, before connecting to Algeria on Turkish Airlines. The delegation, lodge at the Holiday Inn Hotel, is projected to spend US$110,000 on the trip. The club is due back in Monrovia on Monday, September 29, two days after the match.
“We know the challenge ahead of us, but the boys are motivated. We are ready for Algeria,” Cassell Anthony Kuoh CEO of Fassell said.
CAF, LFA Intervene in Visa Standoff
Upon arrival in Algiers on Tuesday morning, Fassell ran into fresh trouble. The squad, which landed at 10:40 AM local time, was denied full entry by Algerian immigration officials, who claimed the players did not possess the proper visas.
The team had initially been cleared and told their passports would be returned at the hotel, but were later ordered back to the control area and held at the airport lodge for more than three hours.
Frustrated, Fassell lodged an immediate complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Liberia Football Association (LFA). Secretary General Emmett Crayton engaged directly with the Algerian Football Federation to resolve the matter.
According to protocol, MC Alger were responsible for facilitating visas through their federation. But immigration authorities claimed payment was attempted in Algerian dinars rather than euros, leading to the rejection. Fassell offered to cover the costs upfront, with reimbursement later, but the confusion caused a lengthy delay.
Eventually, CAF and the LFA intervened, and the team was released to their hotel. A second group of delegates faced similar hurdles after transiting through Turkey but were also eventually cleared.
Focus Shifts to Saturday
Despite the rocky start to their North African trip, the Soccer Missionaries are now fully lodged in Algiers. The players underwent light recovery sessions and are scheduled to resume full training at 6:00 PM local time ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
With the tie hanging in the balance, Fassell must either win or secure a scoring draw to progress. As the team prepares under the weight of history, all eyes will be on whether the Missionaries can cross the North African hurdle that has long haunted Liberian clubs.
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