By Jerome C. Willie, Jr. boyzwill26@gmail.com
It seems to be a dream come through for Liberia Lower Women’s League Division Club, Shiatta Angels FC as the Careyburg outfit female club Shiatta Angels FC booked a space to the FA Cup grand final of the women’s category for the first time in the Club’s history.
The CareyBurg based club Shiatta Angels won Blanco FC 4-1 on aggregate in the semifinals to reach the final.
In the first meetings in the semifinals on 30 March at the ATS, Shiatta Angels won Blanco FC 2-1 while in the second leg Shiatta Angels won a convincing 2-0 win over Blanco FC on 5 April at the same venue.
On the road to the first ever FA Cup final the Lower Women’s Division Club Shiatta Angels eliminated three LFA Women’s Upper Division Clubs which include Earth Angel, LEAD MFA and Blanco FC.
While on the other hand defending champions Determine Girls FC booked a space to the grand final after a two-all draw in the return leg with Ambassadors on 5 April.
Ruggy Joff and Mabutu Camara goals slavage a point for Determine Girls FC.
It was the Gambian International Ruggy Joff of Determine Girls FC first competitive goal for Club since she arrived at the club.
It was team skipper Ruth Wesseh lone goal in the second half give Determine Girls FC a narrow 1-0 win over Ambassadors FC during the first leg on 30 March which give the defending champions an added advantage.
Determine Girls FC moves to the grand final with a 3-2 goal aggregate over Ambassadors FC.
Shiatta Angels made history by becoming the only Lower League Club to advance to the knockout stage of the competition after be paired with top-tier Women’s League Club Earth Angels during the opening games of the competition on 11 February 2023 at the North Star Stadium in Mt . Barclay during Round One with Shiatta Angels winning 3-2 in penalties shootout after a one-all draw at full-time while on the other hand Determine Girls FC opens the title defense with a 9-0 thrashing over Ravia Angels at the SKD PP in Paynesville on 9 February.
The competition marks the first edition of the Orange Cup after previously named the Petro Trade Cup.
The competition official kickoff on 8 February 2023 with 16 teams participating which include 12 teams from the top-tier and 4 clubs from the Lower League.
Radiation Angels, Tap Ta Small Town and finalist Shiatta Angels FC are the team’s from the Lower League.
This year’s edition of the women’s category took place at 6 venues which include the Tusa Field, SKD PP, North Star, Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Kakara and ATS in Monrovia.
The Antoinette Tubman Stadium on the UN Drive is the official home of the Orange Cup where games played previously during the preliminary rounds and remain the only venue to host the Quarterfinal and Semifinals stages of the competition.
The 2023 Orange Cup grandfinal of the women’s category is slated for the 29-30 of April 2023 at the ATS on the UN Drive.
Determine Girls FC is eyeing a back-to-back championship after winning the last edition of the competition styles The Petro Trade Cup.
The Liberia FA Cup is a football tournament that is held annually in Liberia. It is organized by the Liberia Football Association and features teams from across the country.
The tournament is open to all clubs, regardless of their division or league status. The winner of the Liberia FA Cup qualifies for the CAF Confederation Cup, which is a continental club competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).