Lonestar new coach ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐๐ฬโs unveiling ceremony on Monday, was greeted with a protest by some aggrieved football fans at the Liberia Football Association headquarters in Oldest Congo Town.
The 59-year old Romanian technician replaced Ansu Keita as coach of the Liberian national team after agreeing to a two- year deal.
The protesters, predominantly youths, were carrying placards, and chanting slogans – demanding the immediate resignation of LFA president Mustapha Raji.
The angry football fans among other things, accused Raji and his executive committee members for Lone Star dismal performance and the misappropriations of FIFAโs funds.
โOur Pride and Joy has become a laughing stuff under the presidency of Mustapha Raji, and this guy need go go.
โImagine, Liberia is ranked 46 out of 54 countries in Africa, and the least in West Africa – Even Sierra Leone that we played against every time is better than us,โ Yudu Miller who led Mondayโs protest at the LFA head office lamented.
Liberia has lost the last five matches – with three of those defeats, against South Africa, Malawi and Equatorial Guinea at home.
Lone Star also lost 3-0 to Morocco in Agadir, and 3-1 to the Black Stars of Ghana in an international friendly.
Unfortunately Raji who is currently in Monrovia cleverly chose not to attend Mondayโs unveiling ceremony. The LFA, through its Communication Department had earlier announced that the under fire football Chief would address the sports media after the unveiling program.
Another noticeable absence at ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐๐ฬโs signing ceremony was Sports Minister Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu. Some journalists who attended the program were wondering if his absence was orchestrated by the LFA boss.
Before his appointment as Sports Minister, Cllr Cole Bangalu headed the legal team representing Raji and the LFA in ongoing cases at the Civil Law Court.
According to LFA 2nd Vice President Adolphus Dolo, the former Malawian Head Coach has a mandate to qualify Liberia for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐๐ฬโs first task will be against Djibouti away on March 20th in the preliminary round of the Nations Cup qualifiers. The return fixture comes on 26th March at the SKD Sports Complex in Monrovia.
The eight lowest-ranked teams in the last FIFA ranking were involved in the preliminary round draw held at CAF headquarters in Egypt on Tuesday.
Yudu said, โto see Liberia playing consistently in the preliminary rounds of major qualifiers after producing Africaโs only World Best footballer in former President George Weah is not only embarrassing. but frustrating and devastating.
โMauritania, like the Sports Minister mentioned the other day is receiving the same amount FIFA is giving to Liberia. But look at Mauritania today, they five qualified for the consecutive Nations Cup finals
โRaji has mismanaged and misappropriated the over fifteen millions (15,000,000) he received from FIFA since he began LFA president?
โRaji lied about the actual amount LFA used to construct the new football headquarters. He also understated the headquarter project cost because of self aggrandizement.
โImagine Raji sued the former LFA General Secretary only because Isaac Montgomery exposed him,โ Yudu Miller alleged.
The former LFA chief scribe informed a team of journalists on April 28, 2023 that the local FA borrowed US$ 319,000 from GT Bank to complete the headquarter project.
Montgomery said, the LFA needs to correct 1.5 million figure announced by Raji as the actual cost of the headquarter project was incorrect, and urged his former employer to add the loan borrowed from the bank.
Raji filed a US$ 250,000 Damages lawsuit against Montgomery for scandal and liable.
Meanwhile, CESAF, the construction company that built the LFA headquarter, has filed an Action of Debt lawsuit against Raji and the LFA for failure to pay money owed the company.
Former Lone Star coach Ansu Keita has equally threatened a lawsuit against the LFA for unlawful dismissal.
