Published: November 4, 2025
MONROVIA — FIFA Talent Coach assigned to Liberia, Ammy Ninje, says he remains proud of the Liberia under-17 team despite their winless performance at the just-ended WAFU Zone A U-17 Championship in Mali.
Speaking on PUNCH FM over the weekend, Ninje said Liberia’s decision to field genuinely young players was intentional and part of a long-term development plan. The U-17 side lost all three of its matches and finished bottom of a group featuring hosts Mali, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau.
“For me, I was proud to take a team at that age,” Ninje said. “In Africa, we have a massive problem with age cheating. I couldn’t do what I did in Tanzania, but in Liberia, because the president and the people were flexible, I could do it again and again.”
Ninje said most of the players used in Mali are significantly younger than the 17-year age limit and will remain eligible for future youth tournaments. He cited Morocco’s youth football model as an example of the long-term benefits of investing in younger players.
“Let me give you an example,” he said. “You beat Morocco here a few years ago at the U-17 level. That Morocco U-20 team is now world champions. Why? Because they took young players and gave them experience. So who is laughing now? Morocco. Sometimes it is good to learn from others and be patient.”
Ninje, a UEFA Pro License holder and former Premier League coach with Nottingham Forest, emphasized that football success requires patience and consistency.
“You cannot build a house in one day,” he said. “You start with the foundation, shape the players’ mentality, and build a football culture. There is no quick fix in football. Once we understand this, in two to three years everyone will be happy, and we will forget what happened in Mali.”
Ninje is one of 40 FIFA Talent Coaches deployed under FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme. He is expected to earn $160,000 over the two-year project.
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