Following weeks of vetting of the 29 individuals who applied to contest the LFA delayed 2026 election, the Local FA Independent Election Committee has disqualified FC Fassell Boss Cassell Kouh and the Secretary General of the West African Beach Soccer Union, Sekou Keita who is also Top Executive of the 24 Street Beach Soccer Club.
The two along with LFA Incumbent President Mustaphai Raji applied to contest the LFA Presidency.
Cassell Kouh according to the committee was disqualified because of his criminal conviction in 2017 in the United States.
The FC Fassell Boss while serving as LFA Vice President for Operations was arrested and convicted in the United States in 2017 for his role in a $9.5 million investment fraud scheme.
Football stakeholders in 2018 crafted and approved a new law in the LFA statutes, barring individuals with criminal convictions from contesting in any LFA election.
The LFA Independent Election Committee in its statement said its decision to declare Cassell Kouh ineligible is based on articles 45.4 and 58, 1 of the LFA 2018 amended statute.
“Articles 45.4 and 58.1 of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) Statutes (2018, as amended) establish strict eligibility, or “integrity clauses,” for candidates running for president, vice-presidents, and executive committee members” says the LFA Independent Election body.
Cassell Kouh’s disqualification was expected long before he even declared his interest to contest in 2024.
Many of his supporters described the decision has “watch-hunt” orchestrated by Mustaphai Raji.
They are accusing of Raji of being afraid of competition in the election.
Sekou Keita was also disqualified by the committee from contesting the LFA presidency, but not many football followers are weighing in on his disqualification.
The LFA electoral body said it disqualified the former IE player and Vice President from contesting the election because “his nomination was not consistent with the mandatory nomination requirement prescribed under Article 45.3 of the LFA Statutes” which obliges every candidate to be duly proposed by at least one member of the association. Mr. Keita was reportedly nominated by a beach soccer club which does not have voting right and does not have nomination powers.
Sekou Keita and his camp have not responded to the committee’s decision up to press time, but Cassell Kouh’s camp has arranged an emergency meeting in tackling the situation. News however coming out of that camp says Cassell Kouh has ordered his legal team to petition the Supreme Court early Friday to put a stay order on the LFA election. Team Cassell says once he’s not on the ballot, there should be no election and that Raji and his Executive Committee should relinquish authority to a normalization committee.
However, Cassell and Sekou have the rights to challenge the LFA election committee through a laid down procedures in the LFA, CAF and FIFA Statutes.
This, a source in the Cassell’s camp says it will be a waste of time as these procedures may not help their man.
The latest means, Mustaphai Raji will be the lone candidate for the presidency, seeking his third and final four years term.
26 others were qualified to contest the 14 executive committee seats. Among them are three ladies vying for the lone female seat. Incumbent female representative Jodi Seton is being heavily challenged by former EC member Rochell Woodson and former IE top executive Kiaddieyatu Darren Findley.
23 men including current 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents, Sekou Konneh and Adolphus Saye Dolo will challenge for the 13 other slots on May 15 at the Paynesville City Hall. 