MONROVIA – The Organizing Committee of the 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet (NCSM) has dealt a massive blow to Lofa County’s championship aspirations, officially awarding match points to Grand Cape Mount and Grand Bassa Counties following a high-stakes protest over player eligibility.
By Christopher C. Walker
The decision, which reshapes the tournament’s knockout bracket just hours before the quarterfinals, was announced Friday at the Ministry of Youth and Sports headquarters at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex.
The Infraction
At the heart of the controversy was the fielding of players Jeremiah Johnson and Francis Doe. Following a technical review, the Committee confirmed that both players were ineligible to participate in the tournament due to invalid transfer procedures.
The Liberia Football Association (LFA), which oversees player validation for the football category, informed the Committee that the duo’s transfers from Wologizi FC to Howard FC occurred on December 7, 2025. This date falls outside the officially sanctioned domestic transfer window, rendering their registration null and void.
The Ruling
Invoking Article 24, Section A of the NCSM Rules and Regulations, the Organizing Committee affirmed the earlier decision of the Protest Committee and the Appeal Board.
In a statement, the Committee cited Article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which mandates an automatic forfeiture if an ineligible player features in a match. Consequently, Lofa County was ordered to forfeit the results of matches in which Johnson and Doe participated.
The points redistribution is as follows:
Grand Cape Mount: Awarded three points and two goals from their December 20, 2025, clash against Lofa.
Grand Bassa: Awarded three points and two goals from their December 14, 2025, match against Lofa in Buchanan.
New Group C Standings
The ruling has caused a significant shift in the final Group C table. Grand Bassa County now emerges as the group leader with seven points and a plus-four goal difference. Grand Cape Mount County secures the runner-up spot, also with seven points but a plus-three goal difference, effectively ending Lofa’s run in the competition.
“The decision is firmly grounded in the tournament’s rules and regulations,” the Committee stated. “Any deviation from established rules could undermine the validity of the competition. We call on all supporters and stakeholders to respect this ruling.”
Quarterfinals Set for SKD
Despite the late-stage drama, the “Peace and Unity” tournament moves forward. The quarterfinal stage is scheduled to kick off tomorrow, Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the SKD Sports Complex.
The double-header fixtures in both kickball and football will feature River Gee, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Margibi, and Montserrado, as the nation prepares for the climax of Liberia’s biggest sporting festival.
