Liberia U-20 Coach Apologizes for ‘Reckless’ Accusation Against WAFU

MONROVIA — Liberia U-20 Head Coach Emmanuel Kaykay has apologized for the ‘reckless’ allegations he made against the West African Football Union (WAFU).

In a post-match press conference after Liberia’s 1-1 draw against Guinea U-20, Kaykay claimed the tournament favored francophone countries, suggesting that his team was unfairly denied a legitimate goal by the referees officiating the game.

Kaykay further questioned the WAFU organizing committee for using a francophone referee in the match, stating that Portuguese and English-speaking referees were available.

“The game should not be a Francophone tournament. We scored a clear early goal against Guinea, but it was disallowed without any justifiable reason,” he alleged.

Kaykay continued: “Why would you assign a French-speaking referee to officiate our game when there were Portuguese and English referees available? I believe it was a calculated plan to rob us of what we deserved.”

Following a wave of criticism, Coach Kaykay issued an apology, acknowledging that his actions were wrong and not in the best interest of football.

“I strongly believe my actions were wrong and not in the spirit of the game. For the sake of football, please accept my apology,” he wrote.

Kaykay also praised WAFU for its efforts in youth development across the South Region, stating: “WAFU has been doing very well with our youth development programs for both genders. I am deeply sorry for my actions and promise to remain calm even after a loss.”

LFA Distances Itself

Meanwhile, the Liberia Football Association (LFA) has distanced itself from Kaykay’s comments, clarifying that they do not align with the values and principles upheld by the association.

“We firmly oppose any remarks or sentiments that contradict this commitment. We recognize the potential impact of these comments and want to assure our partners, the public, and our stakeholders that they do not reflect the beliefs or stances of the Liberia Football Association,” the LFA said in a statement.

Considered one of the best local coaches, Kaykay failed to deliver as hosts Liberia were eliminated from the WAFU Zone-A U-20 Nations Cup.

Liberia needed a win against Guinea on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals.

The draw followed a disappointing 3-1 defeat to neighboring Sierra Leone on Wednesday. Liberia began the tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, and expectations were high that the hosts would progress further.

With some of the top local players, including the First Division’s three top-performing strikers—Clement Zubah, Nuch Zohn, and Emmanuel Sieh—many thought Liberia would be a force to reckon with.

It is unclear whether Kaykay will face any suspension from WAFU.