Liberia vs Djibouti Prediction: Hosts expected to get the job done once again

On Tuesday, Liberia will host Djibouti at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville for the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in the preliminary round. With Liberia currently holding the advantage, can Djibouti secure a significant away victory and clinch qualification in this crucial match?

In their initial encounter on Wednesday, the Lone Stars secured a 2-0 victory against the Shoremen of the Red Sea. Mohammed Sangare broke the deadlock for Liberia with a penalty in the 23rd minute, followed by Oscar Dorley extending their lead 12 minutes later. Following a streak of five consecutive losses, Liberia displayed a significantly improved performance, earning their first win since July 2022. Advancing to the second round of the AFCON qualifiers is their primary objective, and with their triumph on Wednesday, they are one step closer to achieving it.

Djibouti's winless streak has stretched to four games, following their participation in the 2023 Mauritius Four Nations Cup, where they managed two wins in three matches last June. Despite this, the team is ranked 192nd in the world, positioning them as one of the weakest sides globally. Notably, Djibouti has never qualified for a major international tournament. Given their current circumstances, it appears Djibouti will need an extraordinary effort to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON alive, especially as they play away from home in this fixture. Heading into this match, Djibouti has conceded in each of their last 12 games, highlighting a need to focus on improving their defensive play.

With their convincing 2-0 victory last week, Liberia has virtually secured their spot in the next round of the qualifiers. The Lone Stars may have the luxury of easing off the gas pedal in this match, but they could opt to press hard against the struggling Djibouti once more.