The African continent boasts a rich tapestry of history, marked by ancient civilizations, colonial struggles, and the eventual rise of independent nations. Among these nations, Egypt and Liberia hold significant places, each with unique stories and paths to sovereignty. This article delves into the historical contexts of both countries, exploring their journeys to independence and their roles in shaping modern Africa.
Egypt faced Liberia at Alexandria Stadium on Tue, Sep 27, 2022, 18:00 UTC. This match was part of the Friendlies. You can check the recent head-to-head encounters, as well as full H2H record on this page to see how Egypt and Liberia have fared against each other in the past.
On FotMob, one could follow the Egypt vs Liberia live score with a full set of match features, including:
- Live updates: Every goal, card, substitution and key moment instantly delivered on FotMob.
- Real-time extensive stats powered by Opta: Possession, shots, corners, big chances created, xG, momentum, and shot maps.
The lineups were: Egypt (4-3-3): Mohamed El Shenawy - Omar Gaber, Ahmed Hegazy, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Mohamed Hamdi - Emam Ashour, Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud Hamada - Omar Marmoush, Ahmed Hassan Koka, Trezeguet.
Liberia (4-2-3-1): Tommy Songo - Jeremy Saygbe, Prince Balde, Sampson Dweh, Jamal Arago - Brem Soumaoro, Joachim Adukor - Ketu Jerbo, Oscar Dorley, Marcus Macauley - William Jebor.
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Unavailable players for Egypt: Marwan Attia (injury), Mostafa Fathi (injury). Liberia did not have any unavailable players.
Team form & Head-to-head history: Compare recent results and see how Egypt and Liberia have performed against each other. The current head to head record for the teams are Egypt 1 win(s), Liberia 0 win(s), and 0 draw(s).
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Liberia: A Beacon of Independence
When speaking about modern African countries, it makes sense to measure their age from the moment of independence. For this article, we cross-checked the countries' dates of independence with the listings from the Encyclopædia Britannica.
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According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a “country” is a territory with its own government, laws etc. So, considering the continent’s colonial past, the oldest African country would be the one that first gained independence. That country is Liberia.
Liberia is the first independent African republic. It was founded by Black settlers from the United States and declared its independence in 1847. In other words, Liberia secured its independence even before the “Scramble for Africa.”
Liberia, too, has its complications. Its independence story is controversial: indigenous people enjoyed far less freedom than the country’s name implied. This led to the formation of the American Colonization Society, which aimed to resettle free African Americans in Africa.
Supporters believed life would be better for them in their "historical homeland." In 1821, land was purchased on the West African coast, and the first settlement was established. These eventually united to form Liberia, declaring independence and drafting a constitution.
The outcome was far from ideal: the settlers saw themselves as Americans, looked down on indigenous people, denied them civil rights, and were met with resistance.
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Date of Liberia’s independence: July 26, 1847.
Oppression of indigenous people continued until 1980, followed by a series of civil wars. Only in recent years has the situation begun to stabilize. Today, Liberia is a stable democracy. Notably, in 2006, it became the first African country to elect a female head of state.
Liberia participated in the African Cup of Nations twice, in 1996 and 2002. In the 1996 African Cup of Nations qualification, Liberia managed to register three wins (against Togo, Tunisia and Mauritania) and four draws, which saw them finish the group in second place and qualify for their first African Cup of Nations tournament.
Following the withdrawal of Nigeria, Liberia was placed in a group with Gabon and Zaire. Liberia opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Gabon with goals from Kelvin Sebwe and Mass Sarr Jr.
In 2002 African Cup of Nations qualification, Liberia beat Cape Verde in the preliminary rounds, then they finished first of their group to qualify for the main tournament for the second time in their history.
A Super Quick History of Liberia
Egypt: A Land of Ancient Civilization and Modern Independence
We can also approach the question by viewing a country as a community of people living in a defined territory - that is, a nation or even a civilization formed over time. In that case, the oldest African country would be Egypt, as its civilization dates back over 5,000 years.
Egypt is a country in North Africa and home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. As a state, it dates back to the 32nd century BCE, beginning with the unification of its territories, the founding of a capital, and the rule of its first pharaoh.
Not everyone agrees that modern Egypt should be called the oldest African country, since its modern population does not descend directly from the ancient kingdom. Egypt was conquered many times, and different eras dramatically changed this territory.
It’s difficult to pinpoint when modern Egypt began. The unified kingdom of Upper and Lower Egypt was formed around 3150 BCE. Over the centuries, Egypt became part of various empires: Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab Caliphate, and Ottoman.
Before Egypt could fully break free from the Ottoman Empire, it came under British control. It remained a British protectorate from 1882 to 1952. However, the Kingdom of Egypt was formally declared independent in 1922 - a date most sources consider the beginning of modern Egypt.
Egypt’s date of independence: February 28, 1922.
A military coup in July 1952 is now celebrated as Revolution Day, equivalent to Independence Day. Egypt officially became a republic in 1953, which arguably marks the real beginning of the modern state.
Today, Egypt is the most populous Arab country and Africa’s second-largest economy after South Africa. It is known for its ancient monuments and Red Sea resorts, and is considered one of the continent’s safest countries.
The histories of Egypt and Libya share many similarities - ancient roots, foreign invasions, and eventual independence through military coups.
In ancient times, the territory of modern Libya was inhabited by Berber tribes. Over the centuries, it was conquered by various powers: Phoenician Carthage, the Persians, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, Vandals, and eventually the Arabs. For a long period, Libya was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the 20th century, from 1911 to 1943, it was a colony of Italy.
After the defeat of fascist Italy in World War II, Libya was administered jointly by Britain and France. It wasn’t until 1951, under pressure from the United Nations, that Libya was declared an independent country.
Libya’s date of independence: December 24, 1951.
Today, Libya is politically unstable, with two rival governments. The country is still recovering from a civil war and the legacy of Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year authoritarian rule.
Libya is Africa’s fourth-largest country by land area, but 90% of its territory is uninhabitable desert. Its tourism industry collapsed due to the civil war and has not yet recovered.
Africa divided into colonies in 1913 with modern borders overlaid. Only Liberia and Ethiopia, shown in grey, were independent.
The Oldest Countries in Africa: A Comparative Table
To provide a clearer picture, here's a table summarizing the independence dates of the oldest countries in Africa:
| Country | Date of Independence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia | 1270 / May 5, 1941 | Ethiopian Empire dates back to 1270; May 5, 1941, commemorates the expulsion of Italian fascists. |
| Liberia | July 26, 1847 | Founded by Black settlers from the United States. |
| South Africa | May 31, 1910 | Became a fully independent republic in 1961. |
| Egypt | February 28, 1922 | Modern Egypt began forming in the early 19th century; became a republic in 1953. |
| Libya | December 24, 1951 | Administered by Britain and France after World War II; declared independent in 1951. |
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