The U-18 male basketball team of Liberia has qualified for the FIBA Africa Championship in Rwanda.
The junior Lone Star made it to the Promised Land after an extra-ordinary win over their Ivoirian counterparts at the climax of the Zone III qualifiers held in the country.
Liberia beat the Ivory Coast in all two matches played on Saturday at the partially completed SKD Sports Complex Gymnasium in Paynesville.
They won the first match 70-35 and the second 60-43 to book their place for the Rwanda showdown.
Unlike the first match, the second pairing was filled with much competitiveness as the sides battle things out with class.
It was a showpiece in which the hosts had to wait until 38 seconds to make a single basket.
And soon after they broke the deadlock they never stop draining the points and always looked courageous on the evening.
emah Manoba was their star of the night, pocketing some smiling 23 points and 4 rebounds.
Meanwhile the Ivory Coast have filed a protest against Liberia for feeding over aged players in the male category.
Earlier on, in the female category Liberia went down disgracefully to their Ivorian counterparts 82-51 points.
It was their second defeat to their opponents after previously loosing to them 43-60 in the first pairing on Friday evening.
Our reporter who covered the tournament said it had an impressive turnout.
On the issue of the completion on the gym, our reporter noticed some cardinal parts of the facility were yet to be completed.
Our reporter said the gym lacked a wooden floor, modern rims and backboards.
Our reporter also noticed the wings of the court were vulnerable to rains and were covered with plastics.
Well, local authorities have assured all would be done to complete the facility in time for future engagements.