Monrovia — Liberia FIFA badge Assistant Referee Joel Doe has brought pride to Liberia for his excellent display at the just-ended Confederation of African Football Under-20 Nations Cup.
The competition that that was held in Egypt saw Senegal winning the title ahead of the Gambia.
Though the Liberia youth team (U20) did not make it to the tournament, the country was ably represented by one of Liberia's best assistant referees, Joel W. Doe.
The FIFA badged Assistant Referee showed Africa and CAF that Liberia has professional referees who should be considered for top international matches.
The Liberian referee's performance in the early games at the CAF U20 competition proved that he's among the best in Africa.
Doe's response to actions during his first two games won him admiration at the tournament.
The admiration of Referee accessors and other referees at the CAF U20 handed the Liberia International referee opportunity to officiate in further games at the U20.
He was named amongst the officiating team for the final of the CAF U20 between Senegal and Gambia, a fixture he performed excellently.
Senegal went on to beat Gambia 2-0 in the grand final on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
He was the assistant referee (AR) #2 with Egypt's Mahmoud Ahmed Nagy and Sami Mohamed Abouzid as referees and AR #1 and Morocco's Jalal Jayed as the fourth official respectively.
Former FIFA-badged referee George Rogers, Jr. also served in that tournament as an assistant general coordinator.
Besides the final, Doe played several games.
Doe was AR #2 when Senegal whipped Egypt 4-0 at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on 25 February.
He was AR #2 when Zambia and Benin drew 1-1 at Alexandria Stadium in Alexandria on 21 February.
And Doe was an AR #2 when Congo Brazzaville lost 4-5 on penalties to Tunisia after a 3-3 draw during regulations and extra time at Cairo International Stadium on 3 March.
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After the final, the fast-grounding Liberian referee expressed his gratitude to the LFA and the referee Association of Liberia for trusting him to be a match official.
He posted on his official Facebook page "I'm grateful to God for his Devine grace, all went excellent. many grateful thanks to the Liberia Football Association whose symbolic interest I represent, to the referee committee, referee manager, and all instructors, colleagues, and my dear family many thanks to you.
"Words are inadequate to express my greatest joy."
