MONROVIA, LIBERIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai says the government will allocate US$3 million to the Lone Star in the next national budget, a move he says will end the national team’s dependence on fundraising to finance its international engagements.
President Boakai made the disclosure while speaking at a fundraising program in support of the Lone Star, where he stressed that Liberia’s football ambitions must go beyond qualifying for a single major tournament.
“Our ambition cannot be limited to one qualification campaign or one tournament. We must build a Lone Star that is consistently competitive, professionally managed, properly prepared and continuously supplied with new talent,” the President said.
Boakai said the government will take greater responsibility for ensuring that the national team has the resources needed to represent Liberia, particularly during international competitions.
“From this administration on, Lone Star will never be running around looking for funds. We are going to support,” he said.
The President also said players selected to represent the country should be able to concentrate on their performance without being distracted by logistical challenges.
“People who go to play must not worry about anything other than their job, which is to play,” President Boakai said.
He described Liberia’s road to AFCON 2027 as an important opportunity to strengthen the country’s football program, but warned against treating qualification as the ultimate achievement.
“The road to AFCON 2027 gave us an important opportunity, but qualification must be a milestone and not a destination.”
The planned US$3 million budgetary allocation is expected to provide a more stable financial foundation for the Lone Star, including preparations, international competitions and the development of new talent.
The announcement comes amid longstanding concerns over the financing and preparation of Liberia’s national team, with fundraising efforts frequently used to support international engagements.
President Boakai’s commitment signals his administration’s intention to move toward a more structured and predictable system of support for the Lone Star, while placing greater emphasis on competitiveness, professionalism and long-term development.