Gbarnga, Bong County — Bong and Montserrado Counties have booked their places in the quarterfinals of the 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet after playing to a controversial 3–3 draw that eliminated host county Gbarpolu in Group D.
The outcome has sparked widespread debate among sports enthusiasts, particularly supporters of Gbarpolu, who felt hard done by after their county topped the group earlier but failed to advance.
How Group “D” Unfolded
Group “D” matches were hosted in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County. In their opening fixtures, Gbarpolu played to a 2–2 draw with Montserrado County and later held Bong County to a goalless 0–0 draw. With two points and a superior goal tally, Gbarpolu initially sat at the top of the group.
The decisive fixture came when Bong County faced Montserrado County. With both teams needing at least a draw with goals to secure qualification, the encounter quickly became the center of controversy.
Crowd Trouble and Match Postponement
During the first 30 minutes of the match in Bopolu, fans and analysts criticized the slow and cautious style of play by both teams, with some supporters alleging that the teams were deliberately “settling” for a result that would favor their qualification. Tensions escalated when angry home fans disrupted the match by throwing stones onto the pitch. For safety reasons, match officials abandoned the game before halftime.
Replay in Monrovia Seals Qualification
The Liberia Football Association (LFA) later ordered the remaining 70 minutes plus stoppage time to be replayed. The rescheduled match took place on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Stadium in Monrovia.
When play resumed, both teams adopted a more open approach. The match ended in a dramatic 3–3 draw, a result that saw both Bong and Montserrado Counties advanced to the quarterfinals, while host county Gbarpolu was eliminated from the competition.
Disciplinary Action
In the aftermath of the incident, the Liberia Football Association fined Gbarpolu County US$5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct related to crowd disturbances during the abandoned match in Bopolu.
Despite the sanction, calls continue from sections of the sporting public for stricter measures to prevent similar incidents and to ensure fairness and transparency in future editions of the National County Sports Meet.
As the tournament heads into the knockout stage, attention now shifts to the quarterfinal matchups, even as the “Settle to Qualify” controversy remains a major talking point across the country’s football community.
