Published: March 14, 2025
Monrovia – Former Liberian President and 1995 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, George Manneh Weah, has congratulated Patrice Motsepe on his re-election as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
However, the former Chief Patron of Sports did not acknowledge Liberia Football Association (LFA) President Mustapha I. Raji, who was also elected unopposed as a CAF Executive Committee member.
A post on Weah’s major social media handles, including X, read:
“I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Patrice Motsepe on his re-election as President of the Confederation of African Football, which he acceded to unchallenged.”
Four years ago, on March 16, 2021, Weah used the Executive Mansion’s official Facebook page to congratulate Raji on his election to the prestigious position while serving as Liberia’s president. In that post, Weah reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the LFA after Raji triumphed over former Guinean Football Federation President and millionaire Antonio Souaré.
Weah’s apparent refusal to congratulate Raji this time has sparked mixed reactions within the Liberian football community. Some view it as an oversight, while others speculate that underlying political reasons may have influenced the omission—including Weah’s recent association with Cassell Kuoh, who has declared his intention to challenge Raji for the LFA presidency in April 2026.
Recently, the soccer legend attended a Liberian national league game for the first time in over two decades, stating that he did so upon the invitation of FC Fassell CEO Cassell Kuoh, whom he described as a friend.
Additionally, former Liberia national team coach Paulo Luiz Campos returned to the country after 39 years at the advice of Kuoh, his longtime friend, to support the former Lone Star technical director.
Meanwhile, Raji was re-elected unopposed as a CAF Executive Committee member at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Four years ago, Raji defeated Antonio Souaré for the position, which represents nine countries in the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone A, including Senegal, Mali, The Gambia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone.
His second term was secured weeks ago after none of the eight other member association presidents opted to challenge him. The lack of challengers is widely seen as a vote of confidence from WAFU A members and CAF at large.
Raji, who became President of Liberian football in 2018, has now cemented his status as a key figure in African football governance.
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