MONROVIA – The Liberia Football Association (LFA) and sports betting company Bettomax have officially unveiled the draw for the 2026 Bettomax Champions Cup, setting the stage for an expanded second edition of the preseason tournament.

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By: Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]

For the first time, this year’s edition will feature a women’s competition alongside the men’s event.

Scheduled to run from August 7 to August 23, the tournament will bring together Liberia’s top eight clubs from the previous First Division league in what promises to be one of the country’s most competitive off-season football events.

The Men’s Draw

The men’s division features eight clubs divided into two groups of four:

Group A: Reigning national champions Watanga FC, Discoveries FC, Paynesville FC, and heavy-spenders Bea Mountain FC.Group B: Defending Bettomax Cup champions Heaven Eleven FC, Wologizi FC, LPRC Oilers FC, and LISCR FC.

Heaven Eleven secured a spot in the tournament following the withdrawal of Fassell FC, which opted out due to a scheduled international preseason tour in Egypt and Sierra Leone.

Historic Inclusion of Women’s Football

The 2026 edition marks a historic milestone with the debut of the women’s competition. The inaugural female tournament will feature the top  four teams from last season, which include Determine Girls, World Girls FC, Senior Female Professionals, and Bushrod Queens

Bushrod Queens replaced league runners-up Shaita Angels after the latter pulled out of the competition, citing player fatigue.

According to the organizers, the four teams in the women’s category of the tournament will play each other, with the top two in the standings advancing to the grand final.

LFA, Bettomax Laud Partnership

Speaking Friday during the official draw ceremony at the LFA headquarters in Congo Town, LFA First Vice President Sekou Konneh commended Bettomax for its continued investment in Liberian football.

He described the addition of the women’s category as a monumental step toward the growth and development of the sport.

Konneh also expressed optimism that Bettomax would expand its partnership with the LFA to sponsor the national league competitions in the near future.

For his part, Bettomax Country Director Darren Glove thanked the LFA for its collaboration and reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to local sports.

Glove disclosed that Bettomax intends to broaden its support for Liberian football competitions in the coming years while wishing all participating clubs success.

“This tournament is part of our strategy to improve football in the country and give back to our valuable customers who continue to support the game,” Glove said.

Upgraded Financial Incentives

In an effort to ease operational burdens for participating clubs, tournament organizers have boosted financial rewards across the board:

Every participating men’s club will receive a $2,500 preparation fee, reflecting a 25% increase from last year’s $2,000 base fee.

Meanwhile, the men’s champion will take home $12,000 (up $2,000 from last year’s $10,000 grand prize), while the runners-up will earn $6,000 (a $1,000 boost over last year).

Also, the winners of the newly introduced women’s tournament will walk away with an inaugural $6,000 grand prize.

With the group draws completed and fixtures set, all twelve participating clubs across both divisions have shifted their focus to final preparations ahead of the opening matches on August 7.