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EXCLUSIVE: Liberia Must Be At The 2012 African Nations Cup – AIK's Dulee Johnson
Dulee Johnson says it is time for the Lone Stars to return to the AFCON…
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Mar 2, 2010 1:20:00 PM
By K.N.S Mensah, Goal.com
Liberia international Dulee Johnson says his country has been on the Africa Cup of Nations bench for far too long and it is about time they qualified for the 2012 fiesta.
"I miss the African beautiful game and I know it is the dream of every soccer lover in Liberia to see their country back in the competition. We have what it takes to be there and we must be there.
“It’s really sad. We have to qualify at all costs to be in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to make our country proud. It would be fun for the good people of Liberia,” the 25-year-old midfielder told Goal.com.
The Sweden-based AIK ace conceded the many years of civil war in his west African country must be a contributory factor behind their inability to develop the beautiful game in the country.
“We’re the only African country with a World Player of the Year: we need to be at the Africa Cup of Nations, at the very least. The government has to work on that, we need to improve the infrastructure and everything.
“It’s really sad when you notice smaller countries, such as Benin, take part in the ACN and we don’t... Keep in mind, our country is just out of years of civil war. But now’s the time to improve. We need to set apart our differences to move on and help our football.”
Johnson, who won both the Swedish League and the Swedish Cup in 2009, said the Lone Stars can match their group contenders - Mali, Cape Verde and Zimbabwe – step for step to make it to the next AFCON.
He added: “Actually, I think it’s a good group. We’ve always been unlucky with the big teams. In 2007, we lost 3-1 in Cameroon when we should have won that game. But this time, it’s not going to happen. We have a solid team with players who play in Europe. In Denmark, Turkey, Sweden, England, Greece... And we have talented youngsters. I’m sure we can aim for first or second place even if Mali are a strong team. But if we get together and play as a team, I’m confident we’ll make it!”
Liberia have been at the AFCON twice – 1996 and 2002 – and finished both at the group stage.
"I miss the African beautiful game and I know it is the dream of every soccer lover in Liberia to see their country back in the competition. We have what it takes to be there and we must be there.
“It’s really sad. We have to qualify at all costs to be in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to make our country proud. It would be fun for the good people of Liberia,” the 25-year-old midfielder told Goal.com.
The Sweden-based AIK ace conceded the many years of civil war in his west African country must be a contributory factor behind their inability to develop the beautiful game in the country.
“We’re the only African country with a World Player of the Year: we need to be at the Africa Cup of Nations, at the very least. The government has to work on that, we need to improve the infrastructure and everything.
“It’s really sad when you notice smaller countries, such as Benin, take part in the ACN and we don’t... Keep in mind, our country is just out of years of civil war. But now’s the time to improve. We need to set apart our differences to move on and help our football.”
Johnson, who won both the Swedish League and the Swedish Cup in 2009, said the Lone Stars can match their group contenders - Mali, Cape Verde and Zimbabwe – step for step to make it to the next AFCON.
He added: “Actually, I think it’s a good group. We’ve always been unlucky with the big teams. In 2007, we lost 3-1 in Cameroon when we should have won that game. But this time, it’s not going to happen. We have a solid team with players who play in Europe. In Denmark, Turkey, Sweden, England, Greece... And we have talented youngsters. I’m sure we can aim for first or second place even if Mali are a strong team. But if we get together and play as a team, I’m confident we’ll make it!”
Liberia have been at the AFCON twice – 1996 and 2002 – and finished both at the group stage.
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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