Liberia’s all-time top scorer and former coach of the national team, James Salinsa Debbah, has cast doubt on Lonestar’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to journalist Sylvester Worwee of Spoon FM shortly after the African qualifier draw for the tournament was held on Thursday in Ivory Coast, Debbah said that he does not believe that Lonestar has what it takes to win Group H or to emerge as the best loser.
“I am not optimistic about our chances of qualifying for the World Cup,” Debbah said. “Tunisia is the clear favorite in our group, and the other teams are also strong. We will need to play very well if we want to have a chance of making it.”
Debbah pointed to the lack of recent success for Lonestar as a reason for his pessimism. The team has not qualified for the World Cup since 1982, and they have only won one of their last five African Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
“We have not been playing well for a long time,” Debbah said. “We need to make some changes if we want to be competitive at the highest level.”
Despite his doubts, Debbah said that he is still hopeful that Lonestar can make the World Cup.
“It is not impossible,” he said. “But we will need to work very hard and get some luck along the way.”
Lonestar’s first qualifier in Group H is against Mauritania on September 1, 2023.
