Op-Ed: Liberia Must Build Football Beyond Lone Star Matches

Published: September 14, 2026

There are moments when politics must give way to patriotism.

There are moments when we should be willing to recognize a good national initiative regardless of our political differences. And when it comes to the growing attention being given to Liberian football, I believe this is one of those moments.

Mr. President, thank you for believing in the Lone Star.

But that appreciation must extend beyond the Presidency. We must also recognize the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Liberia Football Association (LFA), the technical teams, our players and former players, private-sector partners, supporters, Liberians in the diaspora and all other stakeholders contributing to the development of Liberian football.

Football development is a collective responsibility. Whenever our institutions put aside their differences and work toward a common national objective, Liberia benefits.

Football Is Bigger Than Our Differences

Football occupies a special place in the heart of Liberia.

When the Lone Star plays, nobody asks whether the player carrying our flag is from Nimba, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Grand Gedeh, Bong, Montserrado, Maryland or Sinoe.

We do not ask which political party he supports.

We see red, white and blue.

We see Liberia.

That is the power of football.

And that is why the increasing involvement of the government, the LFA, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other stakeholders in supporting our national teams deserves recognition.

But recognition must also come with a call for something bigger.

The Lone Star Needs More Than Encouragement

For too long, Liberia has approached football like an emergency.

A major match approaches, and suddenly we begin looking for money. We worry about tickets, hotels, bonuses and preparation. Then the match ends, and the conversation becomes quiet until another important fixture arrives.

That cannot be how we build a serious football nation.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has spoken about the need for better planning and sustained support for the national team. That is important.

But government alone cannot build Liberian football.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has an important responsibility to shape national sports policy and create opportunities for young Liberians.

The Liberia Football Association has the enormous responsibility of administering and developing football, strengthening domestic competitions, supporting national teams and creating pathways for players, coaches, referees and other football professionals.

These institutions must continue working together.

Because the Lone Star does not simply need support before the next match.

Liberian football needs a system.

The AFCON Dream Must Become a National Project

Liberians have waited long enough to see our beloved Lone Star return to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Our last appearance at the AFCON finals was in 2002.

Think about that.

An entire generation of young Liberians has grown up without experiencing Liberia at Africa’s biggest football tournament.

Today, we have another opportunity.

President Boakai’s involvement in efforts to mobilize support for Liberia’s AFCON ambitions sends an important message. But achieving that dream will require everyone.

The Presidency must play its role.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports must play its role.

The LFA must play its role.

The players and technical staff must play their roles.

The private sector must respond.

Liberians in the diaspora must respond.

Our supporters must respond.

Because when the Lone Star walks onto the field, the players do not represent one institution. They do not represent the LFA. They do not represent the Ministry. They do not represent the President.

They represent Liberia.

Mr. President, Please Don’t Stop at the Lone Star

Supporting the senior national team is important. But imagine what Liberia could become if we put similar energy into discovering and developing the next generation.

Somewhere in Liberia today, there may be a 10-year-old boy or girl with extraordinary football ability.

That child may be kicking a damaged football on a dusty community field.

There may be no academy.

No scout.

No proper boots.

No qualified youth coach.

And, perhaps most importantly, no clear pathway from that community field to professional football.

That is the challenge we must address together.

Liberia has already shown the world what Liberian talent can accomplish. We produced former President George Manneh Weah, who rose from Liberian football to become the first and, to date, only African winner of the men’s Ballon d’Or.

So the question should never be whether Liberia has talent.

The question is whether we have built a system capable of finding, developing and retaining that talent.

Take Football Development to All 15 Counties

This is where the partnership between government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the LFA and other stakeholders becomes even more important.

Let us take football development beyond Monrovia.

Let every county become a place where talent can be discovered.

Let us strengthen school football.

Let us support community leagues and academies.

Let us improve county-level facilities.

Let us establish serious youth-development programs.

Let us train more coaches and referees.

Let us create greater opportunities for girls and young women.

And let the National County Sports Meet become not only a celebration of sporting talent, but also a genuine national scouting platform.

A talented child should not have to be born in Monrovia or know somebody important to be discovered.

Whether that child comes from Sanniquellie, Zwedru, Gbarnga, Voinjama, Buchanan, Harper, Robertsport or the smallest village in Liberia, talent should have a pathway.

Remember the Men and Women Who Carried Liberia Before Us

I was particularly touched by President Boakai’s recent visit to former Lone Star player and coach Josiah N. Johnson.

There is something deeply important about a nation remembering those who carried its flag before us.

Our former players gave Liberia joy and pride, often during periods when the country had very little to give them in return.

They should not be forgotten simply because the cheering stopped.

Our football legends deserve dignity and recognition. Their stories should be preserved for the next generation.

Government, the LFA, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the broader football community should continue exploring structured ways of recognizing and supporting those who sacrificed while representing our country.

A football nation must remember its history while building its future.

Football Can Help Unite Liberia

Liberia needs roads.

We need electricity.

We need hospitals.

We need schools.

We need jobs.

But we must not underestimate the role sports can play in building a nation.

Football gives young people hope. It creates opportunities. It can steer young people toward discipline and productive engagement. It promotes Liberia internationally.

And perhaps most importantly, football has an extraordinary ability to bring Liberians together.

There are very few occasions when thousands of Liberians can gather wearing the same colors, singing the same songs and hoping for exactly the same outcome.

Football does that.

For those moments, our differences disappear and our national identity becomes the common denominator.

Appreciation Where Appreciation Is Due

Therefore, while this message is directed particularly to President Boakai, our appreciation must be broader.

To President Joseph Nyuma Boakai: thank you for giving national attention to football and lending the Presidency’s support to the Lone Star.

To the Ministry of Youth and Sports: thank you for your work to promote sports, support athletes and create opportunities for young Liberians.

To the Liberia Football Association: thank you for carrying the enormous responsibility of managing and developing football, from domestic competitions and grassroots programs to our national teams.

To our coaches, technical staff and administrators: much of your work happens away from the cameras, but it matters.

To our players: thank you for wearing the Lone Star jersey and carrying the hopes of millions of Liberians whenever you step onto the field.

To our former players: Liberia remembers your sacrifices and contributions.

To the private sector, sponsors and partners: your investment in Liberian football is an investment in Liberia’s young people.

To Liberians in the diaspora: continue using your experience, resources and connections to open doors for Liberian football.

And to the supporters: never underestimate your importance. Your voices, flags, passion and belief give our players something money cannot buy.

But appreciation should not be the end of the conversation.

It should be the beginning of a larger commitment.

Let This Become a Liberian Football Legacy

Mr. President, history will eventually judge every administration by what it leaves behind.

Therefore, do not let your football legacy simply be that your government provided money whenever the Lone Star had a match.

Let it be bigger.

And to the LFA, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and every stakeholder, let us seize this moment together.

Let history say that Liberia finally began building a sustainable football-development system.

Let history say that grassroots football received serious attention.

Let history say that talented children from all 15 counties received opportunities.

Let history say that our former players were remembered.

Let history say that women’s football grew.

Let history say that our domestic league became stronger.

Let history say that government and football authorities learned to work together in the national interest.

And yes, let history record that the Lone Star returned to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mr. President, thank you for supporting Liberian football.

To the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Liberia Football Association and all stakeholders: thank you for your contributions.

But to everyone involved, my message is equally simple:

Keep going.

Because this is bigger than the President.

It is bigger than the LFA.

It is bigger than the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

It is bigger than the next AFCON qualifier.

It is about Liberia.

Liberia has the talent.

Liberia has the history.

Liberia has the passion.

Now, together, let us build the system.

Long live Liberian football.

Long live the Lone Star.

And long live the Republic of Liberia.