Liberian President Charles Taylor, overjoyed by Lone Stars shock win over Ghana's Black Stars declared Monday a public holiday to enable Liberians welcome and celebrate with the team coached by George Weah.

Taylor, whose birthday fell on the match day, said that it was about time the world took Liberia serious in football stressing that the victory over Ghana was a sign of good things to come. The Lone Stars coached by Weah beat Ghana 3-1 in Accra to raise hopes of Liberia qualifying for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

Weah said Ghana for a long time has punished Liberian but those days are over, stressing that "our present generation cannot be beaten by Ghana there is no way they can subddue our present we would beat the anyday" However, Weah said Liberia would not be carried away by the victory over Ghana "We would take the matches the way they come, we don't see ourselves as already qualified for the World Cup, Weah said on BBC Radio programme, "Fast track". He added that Liberia's victory over Ghana has proved that their 2-1 defeat of the Super Eagles was not a fluke.

"The world said it was a surprise but we have a good team, we did well against South Africa, Congo and others. The team will go far Weah predicted.

Meanwhile in Ghana, there has been general mourning of their home defeat which though some of the fans insists they stand equal chance of qualifying for the World Cup. Charles Akunnor, the Black Stars Captain admitted they had difficulties in the match, and described the outcome as "very, very bad for us".

"Today is a very, very bad day for us. We played well but we lost.

It is very very bad for us. But I think it is still a 50-50 chance for all the teaMs. We might as well try our best, keep training and see what we can do", Akunnor lamented.

A Ghanaian fan could not take the defeat in the same light as he condemned the entire Black Stars team saying, "look at the defenders when they scored the first goal, they were confused and I think we should just train local defenders". Nigeria, 3-0 winners over Sudan are tied six points with Liberia from three matches while Ghana are third with three pointed from two matches, same as Sudan.

Sierra Leone, the fifth team in the group are yet to pick a point.