Published: January 12, 2026
The National County Sports Meet, known for its colorful traditions and intense rivalries, produced another flashpoint Saturday when three Bong County players were caught on camera assaulting a teammate during their final quarterfinal group match against River Gee County.
Bong County, already eliminated before kickoff, beat River Gee 1-0, but the result was overshadowed by the incident involving forward Vickson Teah.
Teah, wearing jersey No. 7, missed a clear chance inside the River Gee penalty area after receiving a well-timed pass with the goal virtually unguarded. He sent his shot inches wide, triggering an angry reaction from three teammates. One shoved him to the ground, another kicked the ball at him, and a third later intervened to calm the situation.
Teah did not retaliate and remained composed despite the confrontation. The incident quickly sparked debate among fans and journalists, particularly because Bong County had already been knocked out of the competition.
A Bong County citizen later praised Teah for his composure and sportsmanship, presenting him with a personal token of appreciation. The supporter said the gesture was not about the missed chance but about Teah’s discipline and humility.
“Football is more than just goals,” the citizen said. “His attitude shows maturity that should be carried both on and off the field.”
Bong County struggled throughout the tournament, drawing two group matches and losing its first two quarterfinal games. The team lost 3-0 to Nimba County in its opening match and suffered another 3-0 defeat to Grand Cape Mount, despite Mount playing more than 60 minutes with 10 men. Bong ended its campaign with a lone victory over River Gee.
Nimba County and Grand Cape Mount advanced from Group A. Nimba finished first with seven points after James Tarpeh scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over the “Gbassajama Boys.”
The match was followed by controversy when Nimba coach Mamadee “Benzema” Sheriff referred to Grand Cape Mount as a “little county” in a postmatch remark that spread on social media.
Sheriff later apologized, saying the comment was not meant to insult the county or its people.
“I sincerely apologize to the people of Grand Cape Mount County,” Sheriff said. “The statement was made in the heat of the moment and was misunderstood. I was referring only to football history, not the identity or importance of the county.”
He added that he respects all counties and the unity the National County Sports Meet is meant to promote.
On Sunday, Grand Kru and Margibi counties clinched their semifinal places after a match that fueled fresh criticism of the tournament format.
The two teams played 90 minutes without a single shot, including off-target attempts. No tackles were recorded, and both goalkeepers were untested.
The lack of action angered fans and renewed debate over the decision to stage the quarterfinals in a group format rather than as straight knockout ties.
“The format is not only affecting the competitiveness of the tournament, it is also making fans lose interest in attending matches, unlike in previous editions,” sports journalist Nathaniel Tokpah wrote on Facebook.
Tokpah called for a return to a knockout system, suggesting two-legged quarterfinal ties instead of another group phase.
“We cannot afford to see this kind of display in a tournament with the biggest media presence,” he said.
The results made the final Group B match between Montserrado and Grand Bassa meaningless. In the semifinals, Nimba will face Margibi, while Grand Cape Mount will meet Grand Kru.
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