The Appeal Board overseeing the National County Sports Meet has ordered a replay of the disputed match between Lofa County and Grand Cape Mount County, nullifying the earlier result and suspending two players following a comprehensive review of protests and appeals arising from eligibility concerns.
In its ruling, the Board clarified that players registered in excess of the limit under Rule 13.13 do not automatically qualify as “illegal players” under Rule 21.1. However, it emphasized that players involved in fraudulent transfers may be deemed illegal upon investigation and formal findings by the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Liberia Football Association.
The Board found that Lofa County failed to conduct due diligence regarding the eligibility of two players—Francis Doe and Jeremiah Johnson—who were transferred from the first division to the third division prior to the start of the tournament. While Grand Cape Mount County appropriately filed a protest, the Board noted that the county did not complete the process within the four-hour window stipulated in Article XV, Section 17.1.
Responsibility for procedural lapses was attributed to the tournament’s organizers, with the Board stating that transferring the match from its original form without establishing the requisite structures constituted a failure by the Ministry of Youth & Sports.
As a result, the Appeal Board reversed the December 26, 2026 decision of the Protest and Grievance Committee. It ruled that the prior outcome of the Lofa–Grand Cape Mount fixture is null and void and directed that the match be replayed on a date and time to be determined by the Organizing Committee of the National County Sports Meet.
Following the ruling, officials have confirmed that Grand Cape Mount County and Lofa County will face off again this Friday at 5:00 PM in a replay match at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex. The fixture is scheduled to be played before the start of the quarterfinals.
The two players at the center of the dispute have been suspended from the tournament, with Lofa County granted the opportunity to replace them. The Board further confirmed that Grand Bassa County’s position remains unchanged, and that whichever team emerges from the replay will join Grand Bassa in the quarterfinals.
In closing, the Board underscored that the decision aligns with the overarching objective of the National County Sports Meet—promoting peace, reconciliation, and national unity—adding that a replay is the most equitable resolution under the circumstances.
