MONROVIA – Liberia Football Association (LFA) president Mustapha I. Raji, as a Liberian football administrator and telecommunications engineer, has always dreamed of tapping talented young Liberia footballers – males and females – to be developed into top footballers.
He has served as the president of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) since 2018 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). As far as club administration is concerned, in 1995, Raji’s Young Barcelona of Gardnersville transitioned into LISCR FC. The club progressed through the Liberian football tiers and won multiple domestic titles, including an unbeaten league season in 2017.
Raji was elected president of the Liberia Football Association in April 2018, succeeding Musa Bility. He was re-elected unopposed for a second term in 2022.
During his presidency, the LFA oversaw the construction of its first permanent headquarters, completed in 2023. His administration also increased support for women’s football, including prize money and equipment distribution.
The LFA has also introduced awards such as vehicle prizes for MVPs in the top men’s and women’s leagues.
Raji was elected to the Executive Committee of CAF in 2021, representing the West African Football Union Zone A. He was re-elected unopposed in 2025.
And so, being football development-oriented, the LFA President, Mustapha I. Raji has continued to strive harder with the backing of the Executive Committee and FIFA, to scout young talented Liberian footballers for development.
James Salinsa Debbah: Head of Scouting of LFA-FIFA Talent Development Scheme
Legendary football icon of Liberia, James Salinsa Debbah, alias J.S. Debbah, has, for almost a year, been working with the Liberia Football Association (LFA) as Head of scouting of the LFA FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS).
The FIFA TDS is a global program launched in 2022 to create a sustainable legacy for long-term talent development in football by providing resources, expertise, and funding to member associations to maximize their potential.
The scheme aims to identify and develop elite young talent, both male and female, and enhance the competitiveness of national teams by focusing on areas like academies, coaching, domestic competitions, and talent identification.
A well-respected legend, who played and coached the Senior National Team of Liberia, Lone Star, Debbah has been working with the LFA TDS project to identify the best talents for the future of Liberian football.
In his role as Head of scouting of the LFA FIFA TDS program, Debbah has worked with other former Liberian international players including Amb Nathaniel Sandii Sherman Jr., who is the coordinator of the program and former Arsenal forward, Christopher Wreh.
In countless interviews, the president of the LFA, Mustapha I. Raji, promised to incorporate more former National Team players in his quest to develop all sectors of Liberian football.
Besides Debbah, Wreh and Sherman, there are several former National Team players including veteran Josiah Johnson, alias JNJ, Musa Shannon, Anthony Snoti Laffor and others on several committees and programs of the LFA.
