Liberia FA President Mustapha Raji declares unwavering support for Gianni Infantino

Liberia Football Association (LFA) president Mustapha Raji has declared his unwavering support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, crediting the FIFA boss and the FIFA Forward programme with transforming football development and increasing participation across Liberia.

Raji, who took over the leadership of the LFA in 2018, reflected on Liberia’s football infrastructure before the introduction of the FIFA Forward programme, describing a country that had very limited football facilities.

“There are few things I will say, and I’ll be very real with you. I saw Liberia before getting into football, with one pitch. The Antoinette Tubman Stadium, just that,” Raji said.

He acknowledged the contributions of former LFA presidents Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., Izetta Sombo Wesley and Musa Hassan Bility, as well as former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, to the development of football infrastructure in the country.

According to Raji, the Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Margibi County, the George Manneh Weah Technical Centre and other facilities have helped expand Liberia’s football landscape.

Raji particularly highlighted the impact of FIFA Forward funding, saying the programme has enabled the LFA to improve facilities and create opportunities for footballers at grassroots level.

“I took over from the period 2018 with the FIFA Forward 2.0 coming in, during the time of Mr Bility, FIFA 1.0. The difference of just 20% in terms of the funding between FIFA Forward 1.0 and 2.0, with the 2.0 funds I’m happy that Tusa Field could be changed from sand to grass,” he said.

The LFA president said the transformation of Tusa Field has had an impact beyond football, turning the facility into a hub for businesses and supporters.

“Today, it’s a big business hub, because lovers of football, fans of football, to watch football and the businesses around there boom and strengthen. That’s what I want to see in our country: increased participation in football,” he added.

Raji also pointed to ongoing grassroots developments at several facilities across Liberia, including Doris Williams Stadium, Gompa Stadium in Nimba County, Tomah Seh Floyd Stadium in Sanniquellie and the Willie Knuckles project.

He said the establishment of the Henry Nyema Browne National Academy under the FIFA Talent Development Scheme represents another significant milestone.

“Today, we have for the first time in the history of our country, Henry Nyema Browne National Academy functional under the Talent Development Scheme,” Raji said.

Raji praises Infantino

Raji reserved his strongest praise for Infantino, describing the FIFA president as a visionary leader whose policies have helped transform football in Liberia.

He also credited FIFA Forward with introducing direct financial support for clubs, saying the initiative has helped reduce disparities within Liberian football.

“As someone who’s been involved in football from grassroots over the last 25 years, I never ever had the opportunity to benefit directly from the Football Association in terms of funding,” he explained.

“We took over in 2018, we introduced funding for the clubs, and today each and every club believes it belongs to them, [that it’s] their entitlement.”

Raji said the development of grassroots and women’s football has also been accelerated through FIFA-backed initiatives.

“For the first time, we have grassroots leagues in our country running from U12, U15 to U17. For the first time, we’ve seen women’s football grow in our country, all through the support, to the innovative introduction of the FIFA Forward programme,” he said.

The LFA president then made his position on the upcoming FIFA presidential election clear, urging those opposed to Infantino’s leadership to challenge him through the electoral process rather than resorting to political tactics.

“Those who are not interested in the leadership of President Gianni Infantino should go and submit, and November is the deadline. If they cannot defeat him they should stay away from politics,” Raji said.

“They should stay away from scare tactics. They should stay away from all different activities and let us go to elections in March 2027 and re-elect President Gianni Infantino.”

Raji said his support for Infantino goes beyond the FIFA president’s approach to innovation and football’s evolution.

“I support President Gianni Infantino, not only on grounds of innovation or evolution of football, but I support President Gianni Infantino because he has helped transition Liberia,” he stated.

“He has helped in terms of his vision to increase participation in football in our country.”

Concluding his remarks, Raji delivered an emphatic endorsement of Infantino, calling him the best FIFA president currently alive.

“Our innovative leader, the best ever FIFA President currently alive – President Gianni Infantino. No doubt I support him now, I support him tomorrow, I’ll support him forever,” Raji declared.