March 2, 2023...Called Up: Brem Soumaoro Names in Liberia Squad for Vital AFCON Games v South Africa (from York United FC website)

March 2, 2023...Called Up: Brem Soumaoro Names in Liberia Squad for Vital AFCON Games v South Africa
(from York United FC website)

CALLED UP: BREM SOUMAORO NAMED IN LIBERIA SQUAD FOR VITAL AFCON GAMES V SOUTH AFRICA

The new signing made his debut in 2021 and has already captained the team.

CRUCIAL CLASH

York United FC's Brem Soumaoro has been named in the Liberia squad for the team's upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Africa later this month.

The crucial Group K double-header sees The Lone Stars head to Johannesburg on March 24 for a clash at Orlando Stadium before a return fixture four days later in the Liberian capital of Monrovia.

The situation is an interesting one for Soumaoro and his teammates.

Zimbabwe had previously been drawn in the group but have subsequently been banned, leaving just three teams. Morocco, motivated by their magnificent 2022 World Cup performance, are the top seeds and already have maximum points from their first two games.

However, Liberia - lowest ranked of the three remaining Group K sides - know that these upcoming fixtures with Bafana Bafana are crucial to their plans of causing a huge upset and making it to the final tournament in Ivory Coast early next year.

UPSET ON THE CARDS?

Both are vying for second place, which guarantees qualification. And though South Africa will be heavily fancied owing to their history, pedigree and profile, the two teams ran Morocco close in their opening fixtures.

Soumaoro captained Liberia in Casablanca and just two lapses of concentration cost them dearly: the concession of a harsh 56th-minute penalty that subsequently opened the scoring, and then shipping a second goal just a minute later.

So, it's all to play for in what promises to be a fascinating pair of games.

Soumaoro is set to make his 11th and 12th appearances for the senior team and we wish him the very best. However, before he departs, there's the small matter of an ongoing preseason with The Nine Stripes and the upcoming trip to the United States.

First up is a clash with Penn State University's Nittany Lions on Saturday, March 4 before the squad travels to Houston for some warm weather training. They will remain there until the middle of the month, facing MLS Next Pro side Houston Dynamo 2 in a friendly on Wednesday, March 8.

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