–Unpaid Bonuses, Outstanding Bills and Delayed Preparations Raise Fresh Concerns Ahead of Liberia’s Qualifiers
MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia’s Lone Star are facing mounting financial and logistical challenges ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, raising concerns about the national team’s preparedness for a difficult road to the continental tournament.
Liberia has been drawn in Group K alongside Mali, Cape Verde and Rwanda, a demanding group that leaves little room for poor preparation. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the qualifiers will be played on a home-and-away basis, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the 2027 finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Lone Star’s opening assignment is particularly challenging, with Liberia scheduled to face Rwanda away on September 25, before hosting Mali on September 29, according to the published fixture schedule.
Yet, as the opening window approaches, concerns are emerging over whether Liberia has put in place the financial and logistical arrangements necessary to mount a serious qualification challenge.
Player Bonuses, Salaries and Bills Under Pressure
Reports of unpaid player bonuses, delayed salaries for members of the coaching and technical staff, and outstanding hotel bills have raised questions about the level of financial support being provided to the national team.
The concerns are not entirely new.
In June, Lone Star Mobilization Committee Chairman Rev. Luther Tarpeh told lawmakers that Liberia’s national team was struggling with accumulated debts and poor player welfare.
Tarpeh said at the time that the Lone Star owed hotel bills in four countries and warned that inadequate financing was undermining Liberia’s chances of returning to the AFCON after a long absence.
He subsequently proposed a US$5 million fundraising target to prepare and equip the national team for the 2027 qualification campaign, describing the team as being at a critical juncture.
The financial concerns therefore come against the backdrop of an already acknowledged funding gap surrounding the national team.
Government Launches Fundraising Drive
The government has since taken steps to mobilize additional resources for the Lone Star.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, in his capacity as Liberia’s Chief Patron of Sports, recently endorsed Minister of State Without Portfolio Mamaka Bility to chair the planning committee for the national team’s AFCON fundraising initiative.
According to the Liberia News Agency, President Boakai has agreed to lead the fundraising effort, with a major fundraising dinner scheduled for September 11, 2026. The initiative is intended to mobilize support from the government, private sector and other Liberians at home and abroad.
The government says the campaign is intended to provide the Lone Star with the financial and material support needed for a stronger AFCON qualification effort.
But with the first qualifying matches scheduled for September, the timing presents a significant challenge.
A Tough Group Awaits Liberia
The Lone Star’s path to AFCON 2027 will be anything but easy.
Mali bring considerable continental experience, while Cape Verde enter the campaign after a historic 2026 FIFA World Cup appearance. Cape Verde have also appointed Humberto Bettencourt as head coach ahead of their AFCON campaign.
Rwanda, meanwhile, will host Liberia in the opening match of Group K.
CAF’s qualification format requires teams to play six matches—three at home and three away—with the top two teams in each four-team group qualifying directly for the finals.
That format makes every point critical and places an even greater premium on preparation, player welfare and logistical planning.
Coach’s Preparation Also Under Scrutiny
The reported delays extend beyond player welfare and operational expenses.
The Lone Star head coach is reportedly awaiting approval for a planned European scouting mission, which is intended to identify and assess players ahead of the qualifiers.
With Liberia expected to assemble its squad from both domestic and foreign-based players, adequate scouting and early coordination could prove crucial in determining the team’s readiness.
A delayed scouting process could further compress the preparation window before the September international fixtures.
US$5M Target, US$10M Warning
The scale of Liberia’s financial challenge has also produced different estimates of what the Lone Star needs.
The Mobilization Committee initially proposed a US$5 million target in April to support the team’s technical, logistical and competitive preparations.
By June, however, Tarpeh told lawmakers that the national team could require as much as US$10 million to have a realistic chance of qualifying, while specifically warning about accumulated debts and poor player welfare.
The contrasting figures underscore the magnitude of the financial challenge facing the campaign.
For Liberia, the issue is therefore not simply about securing funding for individual matches. It is about establishing a sustainable financial structure capable of supporting the Lone Star throughout an entire six-match qualification campaign.
Time Running Out
The government and the Liberia Football Association now face pressure to close outstanding gaps before the first international window.
Among the immediate concerns are air travel, accommodation, training arrangements, player bonuses, technical-team obligations and a proper pre-match camp.
The fundraising initiative provides a potential avenue for addressing some of those needs, but the Lone Star’s preparation schedule is already narrowing.
For a country seeking to return to the AFCON after a lengthy absence, the stakes are high.
Liberia’s qualification hopes will ultimately be decided on the pitch, but the foundation for that campaign is being built—or weakened—off it.
With Mali, Cape Verde and Rwanda standing between the Lone Star and a place at AFCON 2027, the government, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Finance and the Liberia Football Association will need to ensure that financial uncertainty does not become Liberia’s biggest opponent before the team even kicks a ball.
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