Liberia’s hopes for a rematch against Tunisia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers have been dashed after FIFA rejected the Liberia Football Association’s (LFA) formal protest over controversial officiating in their 1-0 defeat last month.
The Lone Star’s loss on March 19 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex was marred by contentious decisions from Ivorian referee Clement Franklin Kpan, prompting the LFA, backed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to demand a replay. Among the key grievances was an uncalled handball by a Tunisian defender in the penalty area, which Liberian officials argued robbed them of a clear scoring opportunity.
After weeks of review, FIFA’s Refereeing and Disciplinary Committees acknowledged some officiating errors but ruled they were not severe enough to overturn the result or order a rematch.
“The decisions in question, though debatable, did not meet the threshold for a match replay,” FIFA stated in its response to the LFA.
The ruling contrasts with a 2018 case involving South Africa and Senegal, where FIFA ordered a replay after referee Joseph Lamptey was banned for match manipulation. Liberia’s appeal, however, did not meet the same standard.
Despite initially pushing aggressively for the protest, both the LFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have remained unusually quiet since FIFA’s decision. Repeated attempts to reach officials for comment over the weekend were unsuccessful, leaving fans questioning whether further appeals will be pursued.
Football supporters across Liberia expressed frustration over FIFA’s verdict, with many believing justice was denied.
“We are devastated,” said one fan in Monrovia. “The referee’s mistakes were obvious, and we deserved another chance.”
Another supporter added, “This feels like small nations always suffer while the big ones get the benefit of the doubt.”
With the appeal process closed, Liberia must now shift focus to their remaining qualifiers. The team sits in a challenging position in their group, and every point will be crucial in their uphill battle to secure a historic World Cup berth.
While the dream of a replay is over, the fight for redemption on the pitch continues. For now, Liberian fans are left to wonder: What if the referee had made the right calls?
