𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗶𝘀𝗺: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

By Mohammed M. Bamba, Jr. (former President, Cece United Football Academy)

Beyond the FIFA-funded mini-stadiums, the questionable $1.5 million LFA headquarters, and the cosmetic gestures of artificial turf and sporting materials, there lies a growing tyranny—one enabled over the years by sycophancy and cronyism.

Mr. Raji, once a renowned critic of the Izetta Wesley and Musa Bility administrations, was elected President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) in 2018 by popular vote. His election was anchored on the hope that it would signal the end of tyranny at the LFA, where critics including Raji were previously targeted and their affiliated teams treated unjustly during league matches.

However, the hope held by stakeholders turned into a fiasco once Raji and his 12-member Executive Committee officially took the mantle of power. Raji who was expelled by the Izetta Wesley leadership for alleged “forgery ” is now wheeling power and unjustly using it against those who are fierce critics with bogus charges and unsubstantiated claims.

Since 2018, Raji has hidden behind the shadow of FIFA and CAF-funded initiatives to present himself as a visionary. In reality, this image is a sham; he is a tyrant in a suit, hiding a deceptive heart behind a calculated smile.

While he considers himself an icon of integrity, he has succeeded in rendering the Executive Committee a “toothless bulldog”—little more than a cheering squad for his totalitarian exhibition of power. He has systematically sought to eliminate those who muster the intestinal fortitude to stand against him.

It is disheartening to note that between 2018 and 2026, the LFA benefited from the FIFA Forward initiative to the tune of USD $11,324,889.00. According to the FIFA Forward Program and the LFA yearly budget actual , the breakdown is as follows:

Infrastructure (8,180,764.00 USD ) , National Team Support (531,235.00 USD ) , Capacity Building (128,855.00 USD ) , LFA Headquarters (1,500,000.00 USD ) , Operations / other projects (434,035.00 USD ) , COVID -19 Relief Fund (500,000.00 USD ) and Talent Development Fund (50,000.00 USD ).

The SKD practice pitch in Paynesville, and Gompa Stadium in Nimba County. We see a “fifth-class” Chinese LED scoreboard at the ATS in central Monrovia, artificial turf in Grand Bassa County, and other low-level pitches under the FIFA High School projects.

One does not need to be an engineer to recognize that the funding received for infrastructure is far higher than the quality of the projects delivered over the last eight years.

The dressing room at the newly dedicated Gompa Stadium is out of use due to the low standard, similar at the Tusa field coupled with the deplorable sanitary condition of the SKD practice pitch, the death track turf at the D Tweh sports pitch, and others.

This begs the question: where is the FIFA and CAF funding really going? Is the Raji administration enriching itself while deceiving the public with mediocre infrastructure? A cloud of corruption hangs over Mr. Raji and his cronies, yet the public continues to be misled by a few substandard pitches while the bulk of the money seemingly lands in the pockets of the leadership.

Furthermore, despite receiving over $500,000 in FIFA funds and additional government support of over $400,000 for the National Team (Lone Stars), we have failed to qualify for eight Africa Cup of Nations and two World Cup tournaments. Some may argue the funding is low, but we must ask: what foundation has been built with the resources we have?

Has the LFA provided a clear plan for the Lone Stars to compete at a continental level? If such a plan exists, it lives only on Raji’s farm and not at the LFA headquarters. Not a single stakeholder can claim to have seen a comprehensive plan for the senior national team, let alone the youth teams. This is more than just incompetence; it is the mark of a visionless character who has revealed his true identity as a dictator milking the LFA’s coffers.

While we hold Raji accountable, we must not forget the twelve Executive Committee members. Their only job over the years seems to have been applauding Raji and singing his praises.

This leadership crisis is deeply rooted in a culture where those meant to provide checks and balances instead become a “cheering squad.” Leadership in our country has degenerated from accountability to accomplishment in corruption; from being people-centered to self-centered. Standing up for what is right has become a taboo, while standing by what is wrong has become a way of life.

According to Article 50 of the LFA Statutes, the Executive Committee is the most powerful body of the LFA in the absence of the General Congress. It is disgraceful that they have allowed Raji to turn the LFA into a “so say one, so say all” autocracy. While a few members have shown small glimpses of why they were elected, the majority have failed.

In the coming days, we will examine these Executive Committee members one by one, providing an unbiased perspective on how they have contributed to this autocratic leadership—a leadership where critics are eliminated and praise-singers are elevated.

Under this Executive Committee, the systemic governance structure of players’ welfare is zero, and our players have been left at the mercy of their insensitive club owners majority of whom are Executive Committee members; the private public investments in our leagues are at an all-time low, and beyond the monthly display of the headquarters of the LFA there is no structural mechanism into place to market our local leagues around the world.

These things are happening because our football is entrusted into the hands of sycophants, opportunists including men and women who should be standing up for the development of football are only concerned about their executive committee honorarium, meaningless trips as a delegation of the Lonestar, and baseless defense for Raji’s ineptitude.

We see you LFA cheering squad and you must be prepared to face the wrath of stakeholders at the ballot in April.

As the revered pastor Martin Niemöller once said , “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me”

Yesterday , it was Grace Weah, today it’s Benita and tomorrow will be you. If you don’t speak out now when they come for you it will be too late and you will have no one to speak. You are a stakeholder, not “Raji’s cheering squad ” , you use your own personal money, business money to finance your team ; not Raji money or effort but your own money . There is no reason why you can’t stand up to tyranny when injustice is been meted against your kinds.

The despotism will continue to be on display as long people believe that Raji is a demigod. There are no secret that conscious-minded individuals determined to stand up against this tyranny will be targeted. Sadly, history has never been kind to African leaders who use their power against their own people and neither Raji nor his accomplices can stand in the way of the people’s power.

For a short time, you can succeed but those innocent souls you have marginalized in the name of opposition will be around when the day of reckoning arrives, and by then the injustice of today will be the performance scorecard you will be judged by. By then, the only legacy to be remembered will be tyranny, cronyism and despotism.