MONROVIA – The Liberia Football Association (LFA) is under investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) over allegations of misappropriating nearly US$1.8 million in government funds.
The LACC launched a full-scale probe following a petition from the University of Liberia’s Student Unification Party (SUP), which raised concerns about the use of public and donor funds by the LFA.
The students requested a comprehensive audit of LFA finances, including funds received from the Government of Liberia, FIFA, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as well as match revenues and sponsorship deals.
At the core of the investigation are two major government disbursements: US$658,550 in fiscal year 2022 and US$1,160,016 in 2023. These funds were reportedly intended for the construction of the LFA’s national headquarters and operational activities. However, the LACC says the money was expended without sufficient accounting, prompting suspicions of financial mismanagement.
The LFA confirmed on May 28, 2025, that it had received a letter from the LACC and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. In a statement, the association reaffirmed its commitment to “integrity, transparency, and good governance” and said it had notified both FIFA and CAF of the development.
LFA President Mustapha Raji earlier addressed the matter on May 21 during a media briefing. Although he stated the LFA had not yet received formal communication at that time, he welcomed any audit of the association’s finances, even calling for the investigation to cover his entire term in office.
“I will be happy if the LACC can come here to conduct a comprehensive audit. I investigate even up to 20 USD at the LFA. Every cent must be used for the right purpose,” Raji said.
Tensions around the investigation escalated after some LFA insiders questioned the authenticity of the LACC’s letter. Deputy Secretary General Mohammed Sheriff reportedly dismissed the letter as fake, but his claim was quickly debunked by Vivian Akoto, Special Assistant to LACC Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe, who confirmed the letter’s legitimacy during an interview with Prime FM.
In a letter dated May 21, LACC Chairperson Zoe assured SUP Chairman Sylvester Wheeler that a full-scale investigation had been approved, following the students’ initial petition on April 4 and a follow-up on May 19.
At the core of the investigation are two major government disbursements: US$658,550 in fiscal year 2022 and US$1,160,016 in 2023./LFA President Raji and members of SUP.
Complicating the matter further is the controversy surrounding the LFA’s new headquarters, a three-story building located along the Samuel Kanyon Doe Boulevard. While the LFA claims the facility was constructed with US$1.5 million from FIFA’s “FIFA Forward” program, former Secretary General Isaac T.Z. Montgomery disputes that figure.
Montgomery asserts that the total cost was closer to US$1.819 million and includes a US$319,045.28 loan from Guaranty Trust Bank, initially intended to cover pandemic-related revenue shortfalls. He accused the current LFA administration of understating the true cost and misrepresenting financial details.
A 2023 audit by KFA Consults is also believed to have confirmed Montgomery’s claim, citing the same US$1.819 million total and highlighting discrepancies between official figures and actual expenditures.
Critics argue that the use of loans to supplement a FIFA-funded project raises red flags, especially since the FIFA Forward program is designed to provide full direct funding for infrastructure projects, reducing the need for external borrowing.
The repayment of the GT Bank loan is reportedly being made in installments from LFA’s FIFA funds, with the payment plan extending from January 2023 to January 2026.
The LFA probe comes amid renewed efforts by the restructured LACC to investigate corruption in all sectors. Reestablished in July 2022, the LACC now holds a broader mandate to probe financial crimes across public, private, and civil society institutions.
The LACC has yet to announce when its findings will be made public, but pressure is mounting for a transparent and thorough resolution that restores confidence in the country’s football leadership.
