Liberia: Finally, Government Approves Lone Star Budget - FrontPageAfrica
Monrovia – Following the struggle by the Liberia Football Association to secure funding for the national team of Liberia, Lone Star, to honor their Nations Cup qualifier fixture with Morocco, the team arrived safely in Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, to fulfill their match with Morocco. The Liberia Football Association and the Ministry The Liberia Football Association and Ministry of Youth and Sports successfully secured funding for the national team of Lone Star, Liberia, to honor their Nations Cup qualifier fixture with Morocco. The team arrived safely in Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, to fulfill their match due to delayed government fund disbursement for fixtures. According to FIFA and CAF, Liberia was facing a potential ban if they didn't honor the match. The LFA took responsibility to transport the team while they waited for the government to release their payment. Despite significant financial issues in the government, a budget of $160,663 was approved by the Ministry of youth and Sports. The delegation includes six players and backroom staff who departed from Monrovia. Liberia will play Libya in a friendly on Saturday and then travel to Agadir to face Morocco in a delayed AFCON Group K qualifier.
Published : 2 years ago by Christopher C. Walker in Sports Politics
Monrovia – Following the struggle by the Liberia Football Association to secure funding for the national team of Liberia, Lone Star, to honor their Nations Cup qualifier fixture with Morocco, the team arrived safely in Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, to fulfill their match with Morocco. The Liberia Football Association and the Ministry of Youth and Sports worked tirelessly as Lone Star departed Liberia on Wednesday for Morocco.
Prior to the team’s departure, the LFA fought to ensure the team could participate in the game, as the government had delayed payment for their matches against Libya in a friendly and Morocco in Agadir for the African Cup of Nations qualifier. Liberia was on the verge of receiving a ban from the Confederation of African Football and the Federation of International Football if they failed to honor the match due to delayed government fund disbursement for fixtures.
However, the LFA took responsibility to transport the team while they waited for the government to release their payment. According to FIFA and CAF, Liberia was facing a potential ban if they didn’t honor the match. Fortunately, at the last minute, the LFA stepped in to cover the team’s travel expenses while the check for payment was being prepared.
A total of $160,000 was required for the trip, covering air tickets, accommodation, meals, and match appearance fees for players and the technical staff. Sources close to both the LFA and Ministry of Youth and Sports disclosed that despite significant financial issues in the government, a budget of $160,663 was approved by the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the national team.
Liberia faced the risk of an international football ban if they failed to honor the match, but a statement from the LFA confirmed that the team arrived safely in Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. The LFA release revealed that the Liberian delegation is headed by EC Murvee Gray. The team was greeted by Coach Ansu Keita, who had traveled from Canada earlier, and subsequently taken to their Farah Maghreb Hotel in central Casablanca.
Lone Star’s overseas players, selected for two fixtures, are expected to arrive in Casablanca soon. Liberia will play Libya in a friendly on Saturday in Casablanca before traveling to Agadir to face Morocco in a delayed AFCON Group K qualifier, which was rescheduled due to an earthquake that struck the North African country.
The delegation includes six players and backroom staff who departed from Monrovia. The players include goalkeepers Ashley Williams and Emmanuel Deaneh, defenders Kemoh Kamara and Eugene Swen, and midfielders Divine Teah and Saah Moses. The others include Administrative Manager Sebastian Collins, Dr. Torso Jallebah, Deputy Coach Cooper Sannah, Goalkeeping Coach Nathaniel Sherman, Trainer George Gebro, Kit Manager Tommy Johnson, Physiotherapist Sampson Zoegbay, and Kit man Emmanuel Foko.