Monrovia, Liberia — The Ministry of Youth and Sports has declined a US$16,273.06 funding request from the Liberia National Handball Association (LNHA) to support the Senior Female National Handball Team’s participation in the International Handball Federation (IHF) Women’s Nations Trophy in Burkina Faso, citing a lack of funds.
The position is contained in a letter dated August 18, 2026, addressed to LNHA Secretary General Hadji Musa A. Sesay, in response to the association’s July 22 request for financial assistance to enable the national women’s team to participate in the tournament.
“Kindly be informed that due to lack of funds, the Ministry is unable to support said project,” the letter states.
The correspondence was issued by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Minister of Youth and Sports and carries reference number KKB/SA/MYS/177/2026/RL.
Tournament Participation Now Under Question
The development comes as Liberia’s female national handball team prepares for the regional competition, with the delegation expected to depart Liberia on August 28 and return on September 10.
Liberia is scheduled to begin its campaign against Benin on September 2, followed by matches against Côte d’Ivoire on September 3 and Togo on September 4.
With the tournament only days away, the Ministry’s decision raises questions about how the team’s participation, including travel and related expenses, will be financed.
The letter does not indicate whether the Ministry expects another government entity to finance the trip or whether alternative funding arrangements are being pursued by the handball association.
Funding Challenges for National Teams
The rejection also highlights the broader financial pressures facing Liberia’s sports sector, where national teams and sporting associations frequently depend on government support to meet international competition costs.
In this case, the Ministry’s response is explicit that its inability to provide the requested funding is linked to a lack of available funds, rather than a decision against the team’s participation in the competition itself.
The document does not provide details on the Ministry’s current sports budget, the amount already allocated to the handball program, or whether any emergency funding could subsequently be made available.
The Liberia National Handball Association had not publicly explained, at press time, how it intends to bridge the funding gap created by the Ministry’s decision.
The Liberian Post was also unable to independently establish whether the team’s travel arrangements remain fully secured.
The Ministry’s letter contains a minor inconsistency in its salutation, addressing the recipient as “Ms. Sesay” despite identifying the addressee as Hadj(i) Musa A. Sesay, Secretary General of the Liberia National Handball Association.
As the August 28 departure date approaches, attention is now turning to whether the LNHA and other stakeholders can secure the resources needed to ensure Liberia’s female handball team competes as scheduled in Burkina Faso.
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