Playing in the third tier of Portuguese football - but starting for his country in a crucial qualifier
The third division in Portugal, or the Campeonato de Portugal to give it its proper title, is undoubtedly unknown territory across the globe - even in Portugal it is largely unexplored by the average fan.
Made up of four different leagues in just one tier, spanning from group A to D, there are a total of 71 teams on the third level of the Portuguese pyramid - of which, only two will earn promotion to the Segunda Liga.
It’s highly competitive, and highly entertaining, in this format, with only the most capable teams able to achieve promotion with such slim odds in their favour.
At the same time, there’s no doubt that the quality is not the highest and likely below the standard one would anticipate from the average international footballer.
Nevertheless, there’s one footballer in the division that has recently earned another call-up to represent his country - Terrence Tisdell.
Tisdell, who is just 21 years of age, currently plies his trade for Sanjoanense, who currently occupy 5th position in group B of Portugal’s third tier.
The right winger arrived at the Portuguese club last summer from LISCR FC in Liberia, and has scored 3 goals in 20 games for Sanjoanense so far this campaign.
And Tisdell has continued to represent his country since arriving in Portugal, not only being called up for their crucial African Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo but actually playing the entirety of the match.
It meant that Tisdell was up against the likes of Yannick Bolasie of Everton (currently out on loan at Belgian giants Anderlecht), Chancel Mbemba of FC Porto, and former Celtic and West Bromwich Albion midfielder Yussuf Mulumbu, now of Kilmarnock. That’s not including Cedric Bakambu, the former Villarreal star striker who moved to China in a 40 million euro transfer just last year.
Liberia went into the game knowing that just a draw would almost certainly be enough to qualify for the AFCON finals for the first time since 2002 and for only the third time in the nation’s history, but they ultimately fell to a 1-0 loss, meaning DR Congo qualified instead.
