Breaking: Appeal Board Reverses Protest Ruling, Orders Re-match Between Lofa Grand and Cape Mount Counties

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: The Appeal Board of the Organizing Committee of the National County Sports Meet has overturned the initial ruling by the Grievances and Ethics Committee in the protest case involving Lofa and Grand Cape Mount counties.

The Appeal Board on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 handed down its verdict, reversing the disqualification of Lofa County over alleged breach of players' eligibility and ordering a replay of the disputed match against Grand Cape Mount County.

Initially, the Grievances and Ethics Committee disqualified Lofa County following an investigation into a protest filed by Grand Cape Mount alleging that Lofa fielded Four First Division players in their 3-1 against them (Grand Cape Mount) in the group stage.

The initial ruling on Monday, December 29, 2025 awarded Grand Cape Mount three points and two goals, advancing them to the quarter-finals, while Lofa County who had already qualified for the next stage forfeited the crucial points and faced elimination from the tournament.

The Grievances and Ethics Committee referenced its decision to Article 11 of the tournament’s standing rules on player eligibility, which allows a county to field a maximum of three first-division players at any given time during the game.

Grand Cape Mount in their protest accused Lofa of registering players Francis Doe and Jeremiah Johnson outside their division as first league players.

The County noted that the players were instead registered under Third Division slots, rising Lofa County's number of First Division players to four in breach of the permitted three, something which the committee's investigation held Lofa County liable for.

However, Lofa County immediately appealed the decision at the Appeal Board, arguing that Grand Cape Mount County failed to file its protest within the stipulated time and that the Grievances and Ethics Committee did not observe due process.

Lofa's appeal also noted that officials from the clubs involved in the transfers of players Francis Doe and Jeremiah Johnson were not adequately consulted to provide the status of the players' transfers.

Meanwhile, after a thorough review, the Appeal Board ruled that the eligibility issues surrounding the two players were the faults of the Liberia Football Association and Ministry of Youth and Sports before the kickoff of the tournament. 

As a result, the Board stated that the two players will be suspended, but their situation does not warrant the disqualification of Lofa County. The Board determined that Grand Cape Mount failed to complete their protest against Lofa in the stipulated time.

The Appeal Board, the highest decision-making body surrounding conflicts in the tournament, at the same time instructed the organizing committee to schedule a replay match between both counties, canceling the initial score.

In its ruling, the Appeal Board stated: “The earlier result from the previous match between Lofa and Grand Cape Mount is hereby declared null and void. The two players in question are suspended from the tournament, and Lofa County is granted the opportunity to replace them.”

The replay match will be held on a date and time to be announced by the Organizing Committee of the National County Sports Meet.

Both Lofa and Grand Cape Mount counties will now compete for the final qualifying spot in Group C.

A victory for either team will secure qualification for the quarter-finals alongside Grand Bassa County.

The 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet has already reached the quarter-final stage. Eight counties will compete in the football and kickball categories respectively.

The National County Sports Meet is an annual tournament hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and is regarded as Liberia’s biggest sporting festival.