Monrovia-Liberia is on the verge of facing a ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football (FIFA) if the country does not honor their Nations Cup qualifier fixture against Morocco on October 17, 2023, in Morocco.
By Christopher C. Walker, [email protected], 0886723075/0777898224
The match was initially scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 19:00 (Morocco Time) in Agadir, Morocco. However, it could not be played due to the earthquake in Morocco, which resulted in more than 800 people losing their lives and hundreds injured.
A month later, CAF has rescheduled the match for October 17 in Morocco.
With less than eight days until the match, the football governing body is struggling to secure the necessary funds to send the team to Morocco. Sources close to the Liberia Football Association (LFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have expressed concerns.
Although Liberia does not have a chance of qualifying for the Nations Cup in neighboring Ivory Coast, the match is essential for the technical staff to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in November.
Sources within the LFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have cited the recurring issue of insufficient funds as the primary challenge.
FrontPage Africa has learned that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is hesitant to release funding for the team’s trip, which could have severe consequences for the national team, as they have two home games scheduled for the World Cup qualifiers in November.
The Liberia Lone Star national team requires $160,000.00 to honor the match, which would cover players’ and technical staff’s appearance fees, airfare, accommodation, and meals.
However, the manager of the national team, the Liberia Football Association, is struggling to raise the required amount, as the government does not seem inclined to fulfill their request.
Meanwhile, there is a noticeable reluctance to speak out about the delay in releasing funds to the national team. Youth and Sports Minister D. Zeogar Wilson has declined to grant an interview on the matter, referring FrontPage Africa to the Liberia Football Association, which manages the national team.
LFA boss Mustapha Raji also failed to provide details on the situation, stating that the Government of Liberia, as the owners of the National team, should be approached for answers.
With the ongoing blame game between the LFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the country may face a ban by CAF and FIFA if they fail to honor the match.
Our Sports desk has learned from some of the players that they have not yet received their tickets for the match but have been invited for a friendly match with Libya on October 14th and the qualifier match against Morocco on October 17th.
Additionally, as reported by FrontPage Africa, the technical staff of the national team have not received their salaries for three months.
If Liberia faces a ban, it will be a setback for President George Weah, a former footballer and the only African to have won the World Player of the Year.
When President Weah was elected, many youth hoped that football would reach new heights, but it appears that the expectations have not been met by the chief patron of sports, who is seeking re-election.
A passionate football enthusiast, Momo Johnson, wrote in the Liberia Football Association WhatsApp chatroom, which includes LFA President Mustapha Raji, Sports Minister D. Zeogar Wilson, and other government officials and executive committee members of the LFA, “MYS is sitting down and can’t release the money. I am challenging LFA, Ministry Of Youth and Sport, and Finance to show proof that they have paid the coaches for the last 3 months.”