Liberia Women’s Handball Team Ends Burkina Faso Campaign at Bottom After Four Heavy Defeats

MONROVIA — Liberia’s Senior Women’s National Handball Team has concluded a disappointing campaign at the inaugural International Handball Federation (IHF) Senior Women’s Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The Liberian women’s team finished at the bottom of the tournament standings following four consecutive defeats.

The Liberian delegation endured a difficult run on the court, conceding 223 goals while scoring just 56 across four matches, leaving the side with a -167 goal different

Liberia opened its tournament with a 71–13 loss to Benin, followed by a 66–7 defeat against Côte d’Ivoire.

The team’s group stage concluded with a 38–16 loss to Togo, sending Liberia into the placement round. Facing Ghana on Saturday, September 5, the Lone Star fell 48–20 to secure last place in the regional competition.

Financial Constraints and Logistics

Liberia’s participation in the tournament was heavily impacted by severe financial challenges prior to departure. With no financial backing allocated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports or the central government, the Liberia National Handball Association (LNHA) was forced to independently raise funds to transport the team.

To ensure the nation’s participation in the historic regional event, a 26-member delegation of players and technical staff departed Monrovia on Saturday, August 29, traveling over 1,500 kilometers to Ouagadougou entirely by road.

LNHA Response and Return Schedule

Following the final placement match, the Liberia National Handball Association acknowledged that the team’s on-court performance fell short of expectations while expressing appreciation for public support.

“We can confirm that our National team performance did not meet expectations,” the LNHA said in an official statement. “However, we thank you all for your support over the period. We are going to do better in the next edition with your support.”

The 26-member delegation is scheduled to begin its return journey by road, arriving back in Monrovia on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

The campaign’s outcome has highlighted systemic gaps in preparation time, state funding, and grassroots sports infrastructure for non-football national teams representing Liberia in international competitions.