Liberia’s national team head coach, Thomas Kojo, has come under fire for his decision to leave Norwegian-based forward Justin Salmon on the bench during the recent World Cup qualifiers against Tunisia and São Tomé.
The move has sparked frustration among fans, former players, and football stakeholders, who question why Salmon, one of the few foreign-based players in the squad, was called up only to remain sidelined for both matches.
Salmon, who plays for Norwegian second-division side Egersund, has been in solid form this season, netting five goals in 26 appearances. His exclusion from the pitch was particularly puzzling given Liberia’s struggles in attack, especially in their 1-0 loss to Tunisia, where creativity in the final third was lacking.
Instead, Kojo opted for local-based players like Jayhbah Konneh, Sabastine Teclar, and William Gibson, a decision that has divided opinions. While some supporters argue that homegrown talent should be prioritized, others believe a player of Salmon’s caliber should have been given a chance to make an impact.
The backlash intensified when former Liberian international Sam Johnson took to social media, criticizing the financial implications of Salmon’s unused call-up.
“After spending around $6,000 to bring him from a good league in Norway to Liberia for both legs, you put him on the bench for both games without giving him a single minute of play,” Johnson wrote.
Ex-national team coach and legendary striker James Debbah also weighed in, questioning the logic behind sidelining a player with over 1,800 minutes of competitive football this season.
“How can you sideline a player with so much to offer?” Debbah asked, also raising concerns over the limited opportunities given to young talent Divine Teah.
Facing mounting criticism, Coach Kojo addressed the media after Liberia’s match against São Tomé, defending his decision.
“This is the national team. It comprises players from both Europe and local leagues, and it doesn’t mean you’re superior just because you play in Europe,” Kojo stated. “The decision not to play Justin was made by the technical staff in the best interest of the team.”
He emphasized that while he believes all players, whether local or foreign-based, deserve a fair chance, Salmon’s exclusion was purely tactical.
This isn’t the first time Salmon has been overlooked. Despite being involved in 12 national team matches since his debut, he has been an unused substitute five times, raising doubts about his future with the Lone Star.
With Liberia still chasing their first win in the qualifiers, fans are left wondering if the team’s best chance for success is being left on the bench.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the pressure is mounting on Kojo to justify his selections, and deliver results.
