Mustapha I. Raji, president of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), has apologised for the FA’s administrative lapses that prevented Liberian teams from playing in CAF 2026-27 competitions.
The association’s secretariat failed to heed warnings from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) about the registration deadline. Raji apologised to Watanga FC and Black Man Warrior FC, who have lost an estimated combined $200,000 from participation. Raji acknowledged this was “not small money” to the Liberian economy.
The FA president was not directly involved in regular communication with CAF, and said he didn’t “have access to the emails”, but as president he took full responsibility.
Investigative committee
The country’s three-member investigation committee found a June 19 notification from CAF about the Champions League and Confederation Cup registration procedures.
The association’s competitions manager forwarded instructions to both clubs on the same day. Black Man Warrior acknowledged receipt, but Watanga said it had not received communication (as per allAfrica, courtesy of The Liberian Investigator).
CAF then sent a reminder of July 24 and a final warning the following day (deadline day). CAF official Emed Shenouda gave the LFA a final chance to complete registration. The committee found that secretary general Emmett Crayton failed to act, and by the time the LFA appealed to CAF on August 3, the draw had been made.
The unfortunate situation leaves Liberian football fans with less high-level competition to watch this season. However, fans often watch matches in foreign leagues, including the English Premier League, Spain’s LaLiga, and Italy’s Serie A, all of which are available to bet on at Liberian sportsbooks like StarBet Liberia.
Possible disciplinary cases
The committee’s investigation launched on August 4 and after reviewing communications, CAF regulations, and “testimony from key stakeholders”, multiple failures were found. The competitions manager was said to be at fault for a lack of follow-up with the clubs on CAF’s process; the secretary general failed to supervise the process and respond to deadline warnings sent to his office; and the LFA lacked a thorough system for handling club engagements in CAF competitions.
The recommendations went to the organisation’s executive committee. Raji said the LFA would do what was necessary to avoid a repeat of the incident.
CAF Champions League 2026-27
The continent’s highest-ranking clubs – South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns FC, and Morocco’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis and RS Berkane – were exempted from the competition’s first preliminary round.
Those clubs enter at the second preliminary round, and the 16 teams who win the second preliminary round ties will progress to the CAF group stage.
The group stage of this season’s Champions League begins in late November and finishes January 24, 2027. The knockout rounds begin 26 February.
Watanga wants compensation
Watanga demanded compensation and also proposed remedies including admission into this season’s Champions League (“if still administratively possible”, in the words of The Liberian Investigator) and qualification for the 2027-28 season.
The club acknowledged that the CAF draw had already happened, but argued that CAF’s interclub organizing committee had the authority to consider such exceptional, unforeseen circumstances.
Participation would have provided a significant boost to Watanga’s status and finances. Their most famous player of all time arguably continues to be Mohammad Naeem Rahimi, whose career never kicked off at the club but who has since represented Afghanistan internationally and plays his domestic football in Australia.
