By: Sylvester Tamba – TPA Sports Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

Liberia is teetering on the brink of a significant sports embarrassment and potential sanctions from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) as its participation in the 2025 West Africa Regional Qualifiers hangs in the balance. The crucial tournament, set to begin on Wednesday, July 16, in Lagos, Nigeria, serves as the gateway to the 2025 African Table Tennis Championships in Rwanda.

G. Gbassay Golee, President of the Liberia National Table Tennis Association (LNTTA), speaking via mobile on Monday, issued an urgent appeal to the Liberian government, highlighting severe financial constraints and delayed logistical preparations as the primary hurdles.

“We are on the verge of national embarrassment,” Golee warned. “Our players are prepared and eager to represent Liberia, but we are still waiting on the government to fast-track the necessary documentation and financial support. If we fail to participate, not only do we risk a fine from the ITTF, but it also damages the credibility of our association and limits future international opportunities for our athletes.”

The LNTTA has meticulously planned for a 12-member delegation, comprising nine dedicated players, two coaches, and one administrator. This team, including both male and female athletes who have been training rigorously, is expected to depart for Lagos late Tuesday – just hours before the tournament’s opening ceremony – provided the requisite funding and travel arrangements are secured.

The West Africa Regional Qualifiers will feature more than ten countries, including hosts Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, and Sierra Leone. Notably, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone are slated to make their return to regional competition after extended absences, making Liberia’s potential withdrawal a particularly painful setback for the sport’s revival in the country.

Sports analysts in Liberia have consistently voiced concerns over the nation’s recurring pattern of last-minute preparations and chronic financial difficulties plaguing various national sports teams. They emphasize the critical need for sustained investment in youth sports development and prompt institutional support to ensure Liberia’s consistent and dignified presence on international platforms.

With the clock ticking down to departure, all eyes are now on government officials and relevant sporting bodies to take swift and decisive action to avert a national embarrassment and allow Liberia’s athletes to compete.