Published: February 16, 2026
MONROVIA — FC Fassell head coach Fabio Lopez says Liberian footballers have the physical strength and technical quality to compete with players in parts of Europe, but he warned that poor and unfinished stadium facilities are undermining player development and match-day standards across the country.
Lopez spoke after Fassell’s 2-0 Orange Cup victory over NPA Anchor at Gompa Stadium in Nimba County, where he said basic infrastructure, including dressing rooms and functioning bathrooms, remains inadequate for professional football.
“I see Liberian players very strong, not only physically but technically. The potential is very high,” Lopez said. “But without facilities like changing rooms and toilets, it is very difficult to play football.”
The Italian coach, who joined Fassell less than three months ago and has coached for nearly two decades, said his experience in Africa and Europe makes the gap in Liberia’s match infrastructure difficult to ignore.
“I have been around for almost 20 years coaching, including in Ghana and Kenya,” he said. “Infrastructure does not exist. … To have a decent field to play football is important.”
Stadium Conditions Raise Welfare and Safety Concerns
Lopez’s comments echo long-running complaints from players, coaches and supporters who say several local venues fall short of basic requirements, particularly in sanitation, changing areas and lighting.
At Gompa Stadium, coaches sometimes deliver halftime instructions on the sidelines because dressing-room conditions are not adequate, including poor lighting. The stadium was dedicated in September 2025, but construction has not been completed, according to league officials and club staff familiar with the venue.
Earlier this season, the Super Cup match between FC Fassell and Black Man Warrior was moved to the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex after Gompa Stadium was deemed unready for a high-profile fixture, with the lack of bathrooms and other essential facilities among the concerns.
Lighting has been another persistent issue affecting match safety and scheduling. The Liberia Football Association suspended night games at TUSA Field during the 2024-25 season after lighting failures created unsafe playing conditions. Similar complaints have continued this season, with players and officials warning that evening matches can stretch into near darkness when lights malfunction or fail to provide adequate coverage.
Supporters have also raised sanitation concerns, saying some venues offer limited access to clean restrooms, running water and basic hygiene facilities on game days — conditions that affect not only fan experience but also the league’s image and the ability of clubs to host matches at a standard expected of a top-flight competition.
Success Amid Constraints
Lopez’s criticism comes as he has overseen a sharp improvement in performance at Fassell since taking charge on Nov. 12, 2025, following the dismissal of Bosnian coach Amir Alagic.
Under Lopez, the “Soccer Missionaries” are unbeaten in 11 matches, with eight wins and three draws. Fassell have scored 21 goals and conceded only two during that run, climbing from mid-table into the top three in the standings and positioning themselves among the league’s most in-form teams.
In an interview earlier this month, Lopez credited demanding training sessions and high standards within the squad for the turnaround.
“For me, it’s never enough,” he said. “The players know it. The staff know it. We must keep improving every day.”
Still, he said the national game cannot reach its potential if facilities remain far below basic professional requirements.
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