Monrovia — The Club Presidents Association of Liberia (CPAL) President Sylvanus Kelvin Morris has called for an official review into the circumstances surrounding Liberia’s 3–1 defeat to Rwanda in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Friday.
By: Christopher C. Walker | [email protected]
Morris, who also serves as president of Liberian First Division side Borough FC, was present at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali and claims to have personally witnessed pre-match irregularities and questionable officiating decisions that severely compromised the Lone Star’s performance.
Despite dominating key statistical metrics including ball possession, total shots, and shots on target Liberia left Kigali empty-handed. But for Morris, the narrative extends far beyond the final scoreline.
He insists that prolonged security checks imposed on the Liberian delegation and crucial calls by Zambian referee Hillary Hambaba demand a formal investigation by football authorities.
“I was there in Rwanda, and I personally witnessed what happened this is not hearsay,” Morris told FrontPage Africa. “I saw the situation involving our players and officials, specifically the excessive amount of time spent on security checks before the team was allowed to enter the stadium.”
Prolonged Security Checks Trigger Warm-Up Crisis
According to members of the Liberian delegation, players and staff were subjected to repetitive body searches and detailed luggage inspections before departing their hotel. The security operation reportedly dragged on for over two hours.
The delay disrupted the team’s schedule, forcing the Lone Star to arrive at Amahoro Stadium just minutes before kickoff.
Consequently, players had fewer than 10 minutes to conduct their pre-match warm up.
“When you are preparing for a crucial AFCON qualifier, every minute counts,” Morris stated. “What I witnessed was completely abnormal for a competitive international match. The players barely had time to lace up their boots before taking the pitch, and that warrants a clear explanation.”
While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to publish an official match report on the delay, Morris stressed that the Liberia Football Association (LFA) must seek immediate clarification.
“If our players were subjected to procedures that intentionally or negligently disrupted their physical preparation, we need to know why, and whether CAF regulations were breached,” he added.
Key Decisions Under Scrutiny
The officiating team led by referee Hillary Hambaba alongside assistant referees Trywell Nyirenda and Francis Swaba faced heavy criticism following three game-altering incidents a late first-half penalty awarded to Rwanda and a second-half red card issued to Liberian forward Kpah Sherman and a penalty for Liberia denied by the referee who sounded the whistle but later drop the ball for no reason.
After trailing 2–0 early, Liberia pulled a goal back through Sylvanus Nimely in the 38th minute. Just as the visitors seemed to regain momentum, Hambaba penalised midfielder Solomon Tweh for a controversial handball inside the box in the 44th minute. Joy-Lance Mickels converted the resulting penalty, restoring Rwanda’s two-goal cushion going into halftime.
Early in the second half, Liberia introduced Kpah Sherman to bolster their attack. However, in the 61st minute, Sherman was shown a straight red card following a challenge on Rwanda’s Bonheur Mugisha, reducing the Lone Star to 10 men for the remainder of the contest.
“I am not claiming Liberia lost solely because of the referee we made our own tactical errors, and Rwanda capitalized on them,” Morris clarified. “However, when major decisions like a penalty and a red card shift the entire momentum of a game, those incidents must be thoroughly reviewed using available broadcast footage.”
The Numbers Tell a Complex Story
Match statistics highlight Liberia’s territorial and attacking presence, contrasting sharply with the 3–1 result.
Match Metric Liberia Rwanda
Possession 51.8% 48.2%
Total Shots 17 12
Shots on Target 5 4
Blocked Shots 6 3
Corner Kicks 5 1
Touches in Opp. Box 17 25
Aerial Duels Won 7 6
While Liberia generated greater offensive volume, Rwanda demonstrated far higher clinical efficiency. The hosts opened the scoring just three minutes in through Abeddy Biramahire, doubled their lead in the 33rd minute via Leroy-Jacques Mickels, and sealed the win through the disputed penalty. Furthermore, Rwanda’s 25 touches inside Liberia’s penalty box exposed persistent defensive vulnerabilities for the Lone Star.
CPAL Urges LFA to Take Action
Morris maintained that raising these concerns is not an attempt to diminish Rwanda’s victory, but rather an effort to uphold administrative accountability and fair play.
“Rwanda won the match, and we accept the result on the pitch. But accepting a defeat does not mean staying silent about systemic irregularities,” Morris asserted. “As club presidents representing teams across the men’s and women’s First and Second Divisions, we have a duty to protect Liberian football.”
He urged the LFA leadership to lodge a formal complaint with CAF to safeguard future national team outings.
“This goes beyond any single club it is about national respect,” Morris concluded. “Our team must be given fair conditions to compete. If everything in Kigali was done according to the rulebook, let an inquiry confirm it. But if errors or intentional delays occurred, they must be addressed.”
