A special Feature on Ashley Williams:

Monrovia- This a special Feature for Liberia Sweeper keeper Ashley Williams as he continues to receive Praises and gifts from Liberians for his great performances against Sierra Leone that led to LONESTAR qualifying for the group stage of Qatar 2022 world cup.

Ashley Williams was born 30th of October 2000. He is a Liberian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for LISCR FC in the Liberian first Division League and the Liberia National Football Team. Many of his Local fans named him after German goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer for his excellent goalkeeping skills and perfect ball control with his feet.

Born in Monrovia, Montserrado County, Williams started playing football in his local community in Logan Town where he started as a defender. The young Ashley began his career at age 12 when he joined a local community team called Duke Football Club. He played at the Left-back position with the community club before joining another community youth club, Bassa Town Young Controller. He joined the club in 2014 and switch his position from playing at left-back to the goalkeeping position because of the club lack of goalkeeper. The decision to go in goal worked out for the then 14-year-old who performed excellently. He remained as a goalkeeper and led the club to playing in the third division league where he was spotted by Liberia First Division club, LISCR FC that showed interest in signing him for their feeder team, Gardnersville Football Club that plays in the second division of Liberian football.

When Ashley Williams joined LISCR, he was a substitute keeper to Toomy Sango his teammate at LISCR and the Lonestar.

Williams might not have had the opportunity to played a competitive game for LISCR FC, but his performances during the preseason never went unnoticed by Liberia U20 head coach, Christopher Wleh who called him to the team’s training sessions ahead of the 2018 WAFU U20 Tournament in Monrovia. He made the list of the provisional 25-players before making the final 18-man team for the tournament. He made his debut for the Liberia U20 on the opening day of the tournament with a spectacular performance in goal. Unfortunate for Williams’, Liberia lost 3–0 to Ivory Coast U20 despite managing eight saves. Despite the defeat, he kept the confidence and helped the Liberia U20 bounced back to defeat with a 2–1 win.

Liberia U20 qualified from the group stage to the semifinals with a 5–1 win over Sierra Leone U20. It was another match for the youngster that performed excellently in goal. Not only his goalkeeping skills, but Williams won the heart of the many fans with his perfect feet-work. He would control the ball perfectly and take on his opponents with his dribbling ability. On May 2, Williams kept a clean-sheet as Liberia beat Mali to reach the final of the tournament.

After his great performances in the WAFU Tournament in Monrovia, he was call-up to the national team. He made his senior national team debut on September 13, 2019 against Nigeria at the SKD. Since his national team debut, he has been Liberia’s one goal keeper.

The 18-year-old goalkeeper, Ashley Williams was Liberia’s hero on Sunday after he saved a stoppage-time penalty in Sierra Leone to put his country through to the group phase of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

In front of a huge Freetown crowd, Young Ashley Williams steps up his game against Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura to produce a historic and dramatic save that helps Liberia qualified to the group stage.

Sierra Leone, who were leading 1-0, needed additional one more goal after trailing the first round tie 3-1 in Monrovia. But failed to score two goals on Liberia the help of young Williams thus making Lonestar to progress.