Grand Cape Mount Advances to County Meet Quarterfinals After Organizing Committee withheld Initial Protest Ruling

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: Grand Cape Mount County's Football Team is finally through to the Quarterfinals of the 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet following the reaffirmation of the Grievances and Ethics Committee's ruling by the Organizing Committee of the National County Sports Meet.

In a hearing on Friday, January 2, 2026, the Organizing Committee of the tournament overturned the recent ruling by Appeal's Board which ordered a rematch between Grand Cape Mount and Lofa counties to resolve their disputed final group stage match.

The Committee instead welcomed the initial ruling by the Grievances and Ethics Committee awarding 3 points and 2 goals to Grand Cape Mount County, and disqualifying Lofa County for reportedly breaching the tournament's standing rules on players' eligibility.

Grand Cape Mount County filed a protest accusing Lofa County of fielding Four First Division players in their 3-1 win on Sunday, December 21, 2025 against them. After a thorough investigation by the Grievances and Ethics Committee, Lofa County was held liable, and forfeited the points to Grand Cape Mount.

The Grievances and Ethics Committee said the action was in violation of Article 11 of the players' eligibility rules, which permits a county to register and use at most three First Division players at any given time on the pitch.

The initial ruling favored Grand Cape Mount, but Lofa County immediately took an exception, filing a request for review of the Grievances and Ethics Committee's decision at the Appeal Board.

The Appeal Board reversed the initial ruling, stating that the fielding of players Francis Doe and Jeremiah Johnson by Lofa County in question as First Division players, was the fault of the Liberia Football Association's and the Ministry of Youth and Sports' vetting process.

The Appeal Board suspended the players, but said the situation cannot result in Lofa County disqualification, a ruling that reinstated hope for Lofa County and fueled disappointment in Grand Cape Mount County. As a result, the Board ordered a reply of the disputed match.

Grand Cape Mount County opposed the Appeal Board's ruling, seeking clarification from the general organizing committee of the tournament.

The clarification hearing was attended by both counties' legal teams at the Ministry of Youth and Sports at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville City.

The hearing that lasted for hours, saw Grand Cape Mount representatives coming out with high energy after the initial ruling that favored them was regranted.

Organizing Committee in the clarification hearing states: "The transfers of players Jeremiah Johnson and Francis Doe were conducted outside the established procedures".

"Article 11 section 13.13 of the rules and regulations clearly states that 3 players from the First Division and 3 players from the Second Division leagues are allowed to participate on each team in the 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet. And that the penalty for this violation is forfeiture of the match".

"Based on the established violation, the Organizing Committee, has therefore resolved to award the three points to Grand Cape Mount County and that Lofa County forfeit the points".

Meanwhile, Grand Cape Mount's Football team has advanced and will face Grand Kru in its first round-robin quarterfinal match on Sunday, January 4, 2026. They are paired in Group B with Grand Kru, Margibi and Montserrado counties.

The quarterfinals of the 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet will kicked off Saturday, January 3, 2026. The actions will begin with Kickball matches at the SKD Sports Complex. At 1:00PM, River Gee VS Grand Cape Mount. At 2:00PM, Gbapolu VS Margibi. The Football matches will feature Bong VS Nimba at 4:PM and River Gee VS Grand Bassa at 6:00PM.

The National County Sports Meet is an annual sports tournament organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. It features the fifteenth political sub-divisions of Liberia to compete in football, kickball and other disciplines.