MONROVIA – As Liberia’s football governance approaches a defining moment, endorsements continue to gather behind incumbent Mustapha I. Raji, who is seeking a third term as President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) in elections scheduled for April 18, 2026.
By Julius Konton
The latest high-profile endorsement comes from Rick W. Barsi-Giah, a seasoned public administrator and energy economist, whose backing has added significant technocratic weight to Raji’s re-election campaign.
A Technocrat Weighs In
Barsi-Giah, a Rice University-trained Energy Economics graduate, currently serves as Vice President for Technical Services at the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).
In a public statement, he framed his endorsement as a matter of institutional continuity.
“I will support Mustapha Raji in his third-term bid. He is honestly ending his tenure as provided by the LFA Statutes. The victory is ours,” Barsi-Giah wrote.
Observers note that his support signals a trend among Liberia’s professional class, reinforcing the argument that administrative stability is the safest path forward for the “Football House.”
Continuity Versus Change
Since taking office in 2018, Raji’s tenure has focused on bringing the LFA into compliance with FIFA and CAF frameworks. Key milestones cited by his supporters include, Infrastructure: The completion of the $1.5 million LFA Headquarters in Congo Town and the rollout of artificial turf projects across multiple counties.
The increase in registered clubs by over 30 percent and the expansion of the First Division to 16 teams for the upcoming 2026/27 season.
Also, a boost in championship rewards, with the men’s First Division winner now set to receive $30,000.
However, the “Stability” narrative faces a stiff challenge from Cassell Kuoh of FC Fassell, who has positioned himself as the agent of “Rescue.”
Kuoh and his “Coalition of the Willing” argue that infrastructure gains have not translated into on-field success, noting that the national team, the Lone Star, has struggled to qualify for major tournaments during the Raji era.
Johnson Adds to the Coalition
Barsi-Giah joins other senior administrators, including Stephen Johnson, Deputy Managing Director for Administration at the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), in backing the incumbent.
Johnson emphasized that Raji’s leadership has preserved the “sanctity” of the game.
“We need to maintain the sanctity of football in Liberia. Raji knows where he wants the LFA to be. We all have to rally around him and make sure he succeeds,” Johnson stated, while cautioning against what he termed “ethical decline” in sports leadership.
High Stakes for Football House
The April 18 election carries implications far beyond the pitch. The LFA manages multimillion-dollar development inflows from FIFA and CAF and oversees youth engagement in a nation where over 60 percent of the population is under 25.
As the race enters its final two months, the central debate remains: Is continuity the surest path toward sustained reform, or is a change in leadership necessary to fix Liberia’s competitive struggles? The answer lies with the delegates who will head to the polls this April.
