By S. Siapha Mulbah
Mustapha I. Raji, president of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), has been re-elected as an Executive Committee member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt. This marks another milestone in Raji’s continued contributions to African football governance as he completes a successful two-term presidency at the helm of the LFA.
Raji’s re-election comes alongside the re-election of Dr. Patrice Motsepe as CAF President, strengthening the leadership of African football. Both Motsepe and Raji have long been advocates for the development of football across the continent, with an emphasis on unity, grassroots development, and elevating African football’s global stature.
The LFA has expressed its pride and full support for Raji’s continued leadership role within CAF. The association emphasized that Raji’s re-election strengthens Liberia’s position within the broader African football framework and reaffirms the country’s commitment to developing the sport at all levels. In a statement, the LFA congratulated both Dr. Motsepe and Raji, noting their shared commitment to advancing football throughout Africa. “We are proud to witness such strong leadership at the helm of CAF. The LFA is fully supportive of these efforts and looks forward to continued collaboration in advancing the game in Liberia and beyond,” the statement read.
Members of the Liberian football community have also extended congratulations to Raji, recognizing his tireless efforts to elevate Liberia’s presence in African football. Several club administrators highlighted the significant prospects his re-election brings for grassroots football development.
Raji first joined the CAF Executive Committee four years ago, securing 37 votes to defeat Guinea Football Federation President Mamadou Antonio Souaré, who received 14 votes, for the West African Football Union (WAFU Zone ‘A’) seat at the 43rd Ordinary and Elective General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco on March 12, 2021. Souaré, who also serves as the WAFU president, was cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on March 11, after being disqualified by the CAF Governance Commission. Raji passed the CAF Governance and FIFA Review Committees’ integrity checks, and his re-election was expected to be uncontested. He was accompanied to the assembly by LFA Executive Committee member Ivan Brown and Secretary-General Isaac Montgomery.
Raji’s election then made him the third Liberian, after Marcel Bertin and Musa Hassan Bility, to serve as a CAF Executive Committee member, further solidifying Liberia’s role in African football governance.
Meanwhile, Dr. Patrice Motsepe was elected unopposed at the time as the eighth President of CAF after the withdrawal of his competitors, Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya, Jacques Anouma from Ivory Coast, and Senegal’s Augustin Senghor. The only potential challenge to Motsepe’s re-election would have been the return of former CAF President Ahmad Ahmad, who was banned by FIFA in November 2020.
These developments mark a significant moment for African football, as the leadership of Motsepe and Raji is set to continue guiding the continent’s footballing future with a focus on growth, unity, and global prominence.
