Guinea beat Liberia, advance to WAFU Plate final

A first-half goal from Daouda Camara handed Guinea a 1-0 win over Liberia in the Plate semifinal of the 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations the Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal, on Wednesday.

It was a fast start from the Syli Nationale who had the first shot on goal in the fourth minute when Jean Mouste unleashed a thunderbolt from 24-yards out, but his effort was superbly saved by the Liberian keeper.

The Lone Stars were gifted a chance to take the lead in the 18th minute when Terry Sackor met a left-sided free-kick with a strong header, but under no pressure he put his ten-yard attempt wide of the goal.

On the half-hour mark Guinea should have opened the scoring when Morlaye Sylla played Camara through on goal, but he failed to beat the keeper as he pushed his effort wide.

Nine minutes later the Syli Nationale did find the game's first goal when a cheeky back-heel from Mamadouba Bangoura saw Camara in his second one-on-one with the Liberian keeper, and this time he made no mistake with a clinical finish to make it 1-0 at the break.

The Lone Stars came out strong at the start of the second half and came within inches of levelling matters in the 54th minute when Karleo Anderson met a right-sided free-kick, but his 12-yard header shaved the top of the crossbar.

Guinea should have put the result beyond doubt in the 74th minute when a swift counterattack resulted in Bangoura finding some space 14-yards out, but his shot was cleared off the line by a Liberian defender.

The Lone Stars threw players forward in the final ten minutes but were unable to find an equaliser as they exited the tournament. Guinea will now face Cape Verde in the Plate final of WAFU 2019 on October 12.