In a disappointing turn of events, Liberia’s U-17 and U-19 female handball teams have been unable to compete in the 2025 International Handball Federation (IHF) Women’s Youth and Junior Championships, a vital regional competition held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, due to a critical lack of financial support.
The tournament, which began on April 20 and will run until April 24, has attracted youth teams from across the region, providing a crucial platform for young athletes to gain international exposure and experience. However, despite months of preparation and training, Liberia’s teams were left stranded, unable to make the trip because the Ministry of Youth and Sports failed to provide the necessary funding for their participation.
J. Aratus G. Larkpor, President of the Liberia National Handball Association (LNHA), shared his frustration with the situation, revealing that the Ministry was informed of the tournament in December 2024.
According to him, the Ministry of Youth and Sports approved the teams’ participation by giving the green light for them to begin their preparations. However, when the time came to cover the travel and accommodation costs, the funding was not forthcoming.
“Just two days before we were supposed to leave, we were told that there was no money available to sponsor our participation,” Larkpor explained. “The athletes had trained hard for months, and now, they’ve been left without the chance to compete. It’s demoralizing for them, and it’s a setback for the entire sport.”
The missed opportunity represents much more than just the frustration of the athletes. It highlights the larger issue of inadequate funding and support for youth sports programs in Liberia, an issue that has long affected the development of talent in various sporting disciplines. The lack of investment in national teams, particularly for youth athletes, undermines the growth of sports in the country and hinders the ability of talented athletes to shine on the international stage.
International tournaments like the IHF Women’s Youth and Junior Championships are essential for the development of young athletes, providing them with exposure to high-level competition that they would otherwise not have access to. Such tournaments also play a key role in helping athletes develop their skills, gain experience, and build their confidence.
For Liberia’s young female handball players, missing out on the chance to compete in Abidjan has raised concerns about the long-term future of handball in the country. Without these international experiences, the athletes are left with fewer opportunities to hone their craft and advance their careers. Moreover, their absence from the tournament also impacts Liberia’s standing in the regional sporting community, as the country’s lack of representation on the international stage diminishes its visibility and influence in the sport.
Larkpor has called for a long-term solution to the chronic issue of funding for sports programs in Liberia. He stressed the importance of prioritizing support for youth sports, which are crucial for the development of future talent and the growth of the sporting culture in the country. Without sustainable investment in national teams, Liberia risks continuing to fall behind other nations in regional and international competitions.
“This is not just about one tournament; it’s about the future of our athletes and the future of handball in Liberia,” Larkpor emphasized. “If we don’t invest in our youth, we are condemning ourselves to a cycle of missed opportunities. The government needs to recognize that sports can be a vehicle for national pride, unity, and development, and it must provide the necessary funding to support our athletes.”
While the absence of Liberia’s teams from the IHF Women’s Youth and Junior Championships is a blow, it has also shed light on the broader issue of how sports are managed and funded in Liberia. The hope is that this setback will inspire greater attention to the needs of youth athletes and spark a commitment to ensuring that all national teams receive the financial backing they require to compete on the international stage.
As the competition progresses in Abidjan, the question remains whether Liberia’s government will take the necessary steps to address these challenges, ensuring that the country’s young athletes are given the opportunities they deserve in future international tournaments.
