The 52-year-old, who transitioned into coaching after his playing career, has extensive experience in South Africa and Liberia. He has previously served as head coach, deputy coach, and interim coach of the Lone Star on multiple occasions.
Monrovia – Liberia’s national football team, the Lone Star, will continue with Thomas Kojo as stand-in coach following the expiration of his contract, as the search for a permanent head coach continues.
By: Christopher C. Walker, 07777898224 / 0886723075 | [email protected]
The 52-year-old, who transitioned into coaching after his playing career, has extensive experience in South Africa and Liberia. He has previously served as head coach, deputy coach, and interim coach of the Lone Star on multiple occasions.
Kojo was appointed interim head coach in October 2024 after the resignation of Mario Marinca. He was tasked with leading Liberia through the 2024 African Nations Championship and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. However, after Liberia was eliminated from both competitions, his contract expired at the end of December 2024.
Since then, the Lone Star has been without a head coach, raising concerns among football fans, especially as the team is set to resume its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in March.
Kojo to Lead Lone Star in Upcoming Matches
Following inquiries by the FrontPage Africa sports desk, a high-ranking source at the Ministry of Youth and Sports disclosed that a decision has been made to retain Kojo as stand-in coach rather than appoint him permanently.
According to the source, the government and the Liberia Football Association (LFA) have agreed to keep Kojo in charge until a permanent coach is appointed.
“The LFA has submitted a list of potential candidates for consideration, but the Ministry of Youth and Sports has decided to retain Thomas Kojo as stand-in coach for the upcoming matches in March,” the source said.
Kojo will lead the Lone Star in their home matches against Tunisia and São Tomé as Liberia continues its World Cup qualification campaign. The team currently sits third in its qualifying group with seven points.
At a post-match press conference on October 27, Kojo expressed his hope of being given the job on a permanent basis.
Liberia Still Searching for Permanent Coach
Meanwhile, Liberia is actively seeking a new head coach, with former Lone Star boss Peter Butler among the top candidates.
Our source confirmed that Butler, who had a limited opportunity to coach home games due to COVID-19, is being seriously considered for a return.
When asked if Butler was among the foreign coaches under review, the source replied, “Yes, he is number one on the list.”
Many football analysts believe Butler was a promising coach for Liberia. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, he managed to win both home games he coached, against Sierra Leone and Chad. He also introduced a younger generation of players, including Divine Teah, Sampson Dweh, Prince Balde, and Fredrick Dennis, while successfully recruiting players of Liberian descent to join the national team.
Ministry to Focus on Senior National Teams
Recently, the Ministry of Youth and Sports informed the LFA that it will only provide financial support for the senior male and female national teams. This decision underscores the urgency of securing a permanent head coach as Liberia aims to strengthen its squad for future competitions.
Kojo, who also serves as the Director of Sports at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is expected to be officially announced as the stand-in coach in the coming days.
