World Cup 2022: Liberia go through, all Sunday’s results

Despite a hostile reception in Sierra Leone, Liberia achieved their objective this Sunday by qualifying for the group stage of the 2022 World Cup African qualifiers. After winning the first leg 3-1 in Monrovia, the Lone Stars lost 1-0 in Freetown but did enough on aggregate to secure progression. The match was tense until the very last moments, and Liberia ultimately owed their qualification to the heroics of their young goalkeeper, Ashley Williams.

At just 18 years old, Williams became the decisive figure of the encounter. In stoppage time, with Sierra Leone pressing hard for a second goal that would have sent them through, the referee awarded a penalty to the hosts. The stadium held its breath, but Williams produced a crucial save, denying Sierra Leone the 2-0 victory they needed and preserving Liberia’s aggregate advantage. His intervention ensured that George Weah’s country advanced despite defeat on the day, turning him into the undisputed hero of the tie.

The other matches played this Sunday also delivered drama and tight contests. In East Africa, Tanzania and Burundi could not be separated over two legs. After a 1-1 draw in Bujumbura, the return match ended with the same scoreline at the end of regulation time. With no winner after 90 minutes, the two sides went to a penalty shootout. Tanzania proved more composed from the spot, winning 3-0 and booking their place in the group stage of the qualifiers. The Taifa Stars thus kept their World Cup dream alive after a hard-fought duel.

Ethiopia also confirmed their qualification after a difficult trip to Maseru. Having drawn 0-0 at home against Lesotho in the first leg, the Ethiopians were under pressure to score away from home. They managed to secure a 1-1 draw, a result that was enough to see them through. Their ability to find an away goal proved decisive, allowing them to edge past Lesotho and continue their qualifying campaign.

Equatorial Guinea joined the list of qualified teams by defeating South Sudan 1-0. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Nzalang Nacional took control at home, producing a narrow but sufficient victory to eliminate their opponents. Solid defensively and efficient going forward, Equatorial Guinea ensured there would be no late surprises.

With these results, four teams secured their places in the group stage of the African qualifiers. Liberia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Equatorial Guinea will now move on to the next phase, where the level of competition will rise significantly. Sunday’s matches once again illustrated the intensity and unpredictability of African football, where qualification can hinge on a single goal—or, as in Liberia’s case, a single decisive save in the dying seconds.

Results:
Lesotho 1–1 Ethiopia (first leg: 0–0)
Tanzania 1–1 Burundi, Tanzania win 3–0 on penalties (first leg: 1–1)
Sierra Leone 1–0 Liberia (first leg: 1–3)
Equatorial Guinea 1–0 South Sudan (first leg: 1–1)