Lone Star to get N46.5m for victory over Eagles

Liberia president, Elen Johnson-Sirleaf

Super Eagles of Nigeria’s opponents in the second leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Lone Star of Liberia has been offered a whopping US$300,000 (about N46.5million) for it to defeat the Nigerian side at home in Calabar, Cross River State. 

According to reports from sources in Liberia, the team was offered part of this highly motivating incentive over the weekend by none other than President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who is desperate to see the team overcome Nigeria’s Eagles and make it to the country’s third Nations Cup.

Johnson-Sirleaf, who had earlier given the team US$80,000 for winning two international friendly matches on home soil against the Flames of Malawi the Black Stars of Ghana and drawing 2-2 with the Eagles on Saturday, September 9 in Monrovia, has now offered the team US$150,000.

The Lone Star Mobilization Committee has also promised to give Coach Kaetu Smith’s boys additional US$150,000 for either a win or an above 2-2 draw as well, totaling N46.5million. All of these do not include the team’s appearance fees.

A local media quoted Flomo as saying: “This is an official statement. The Chief Patron of Sports President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the Lone Star Mobilization Committee has each promised to give US$150,000 to the team, totaling US$300,000 for either a win or an above 2-2 draw to qualify Liberia to the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.”

Contrary to reports that the team has already arrived in Ghana, we can authoritatively confirm that the team is yet to depart Monrovia. Indeed, President Johnson-Sirleaf will have a banquet for the team before its departure. It is at this event that she will promise another huge sum of money (apart from the initially mentioned US$150,000) to be used for training, purchasing of equipment and camping in Ghana.