Liberian National County Meet
| Organiser(s) | Ministry of Youth and Sport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1956 |
| Region | Liberia |
| Teams | 15 (2015–Present) |
| Current champions | Lofa County |
| Most championships | Nimba County (6 titles) |
The Liberian National County Sports Meet is the top knockout county tournament of the Liberian football inaugurated in 1956.[1] It is an annual sporting festival organised and hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The event is primarily a platform intended to forge national unity and reconciliation in Liberia.
The National County Sport Meet is the most watched football tournament across Liberia, with over 1.5 million football fans tuning in to listen over Radio, watching live from different Liberian online football sources, and also visiting the various stadiums in which the games can be played.
Competition format
Beginning in December sometimes January, the competition proceeds with a group stage of 15 teams, divided into four groups, with the first three groups carrying four teams and the last group carrying three. Each team plays every member of its group, and the team with the highest point and the runners-up in each group will then proceed to the next round while the other team will be eliminated.
For the next stage which is the quarter final, and onwards, the draw is entirely random, without association protection. The tournament is usually played within the period of one month; it only exceeds that when there are circumstances.
List of winners
- 1956 : Maryland County[2]
- 1969 : Grand Cape Mount County[3]
- 1974 : Grand Kru County [4]
- 1977 : Grand Kru County [5]
- 1978 : Nimba County[6]
- 1979 : Nimba County[7]
- 1985 : Grand Kru County[8]
- 1987: Grand Kru County[9]
- 1989: Grand Gedeh County[10]
- 1990: Grand Bassa County
- 2004 : Gbarpolu County[11]
- 2007 : Rivercess County[12]
- 2008 : Bong County[13]
- 2009 : Bomi County[14]
- 2010 : Nimba County[15]
- 2011 : Nimba County
- 2012 : Margibi County[16]
- 2013 : Grand Cape Mount County[17]
- 2014: Grand Bassa County[18]
- 2015: N/A (*was cancelled due to the Ebola epidemic)
- 2016: Grand Bassa County[19]
- 2017: Maryland County[20]
- 2018 : Montserrado County[21]
- 2019 : Bomi County[22]
- 2020 : Grand Kru County [23]
- 2021 : Lofa County[24]
- 2022 : Nimba County[25]
- 2023 : Nimba County[26]
- 2024 : River Gee County[27]
- 2025 : Lofa County[28]
| Teams | Titles | Runner ups | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nimba County | 6 | 4 |
| 2 | Grand Kru County | 5 | 0 |
| 3 | Grand Bassa County | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Grand Cape Mount County | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Bomi County | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | Montserrado County | 2 | 5 |
| 7 | Lofa County | 2 | 3 |
| 8 | Maryland County | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Grand Gedeh County | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Gbarpolu County | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Rivercess County | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Bong County | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Margibi County | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | River Gee County | 1 | 1 |
History
In 1970, the Sasstown Territory, which is now part of Grand Kru County, emerged victorious in the county meet, while the Kru Coast Territory claimed the title in 1974. Grand Kru County has won the county meet a total of four times. Notable players from Sasstown during that period included Patrick Arthur, Anthony Wesseh, Tarpeh Roberts, Sylvester Red’ Weah, Michael Tarplah, Anthony Sayon Nagbe, Experience Tony, and Telemu.
Records and Statistics
Championship Records
- Most Titles: Nimba County holds the record for the most championships with six titles (1978, 1979, 2010, 2011, 2022, 2023).
- Back-to-Back Wins: Nimba County is the only team to have won consecutive titles on three occasions.
- Undefeated finals: Grand Kru County County holds the unique distinction of never having lost a grand final appearance, with five championship wins.
- Most Finals Appearances: Nimba County has appeared in the most grand finals, with 10 appearances
- Most Finals Lost: Montserrado County has lost the most finals, with five defeats.
- First Winner: Maryland County was the first county to win the tournament in 1956, defeating Montserrado County on a coin toss.
- Never Won: Sinoe County is the only county that has yet to win the championship.
Player and tournament records
- Highest Scoring Final: The 2009 final saw the most goals scored when Bomi County defeated River Gee County 5-2, for a total of 7 goals.
- Scored in Three Finals: James Tarpeh holds the unique record of being the first player to score in three different finals of the tournament.
References
- ^ "National County Meet Fixtures Released". liberiansoccer.com. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
- ^ "Liberia: A Look At the National County Meet". allafrica.com. 18 January 2016.
- ^ "Cape Mount Claims Emphatic 3-1 Victory Over Montserrado to Clinch County Meet Crown". liberiansoccer.com. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
- ^ "County Meet: Full Lists Of Groups". liberiansoccer.com. 23 September 2015.
- ^ "County Meet: Full Lists Of Groups". liberiansoccer.com. 23 September 2015.
- ^ "County Meet: Full Lists Of Groups". liberiansoccer.com. 23 September 2015.
- ^ "County Meet: Full Lists Of Groups". liberiansoccer.com. 23 September 2015.
- ^ "Grand Kru County Appeals to Citizens in the Diaspora". liberiansoccer.com. 19 March 2004. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
- ^ "After Receiving 1997 Championship Trophy". liberiansoccer.com. 19 March 2004. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
- ^ "Grand Bassa County Gets Though Group in National County Meet Draw". liberiansoccer.com. 13 September 2016.
- ^ "Gbarpolu & Sinoe Celebrate Gold". liberiansoccer.com. 6 April 2004. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006.
- ^ "Rivercess wins county meet in grand style". liberiansoccer.com. 23 January 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010.
- ^ "Bong wins county meet". liberiansoccer.com. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010.
- ^ "Bomi captures football trophy". liberiansoccer.com. 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010.
- ^ "Nimba Wins County Meet!". liberiansoccer.com. 18 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010.
- ^ "Margibi County wins County Meet". liberiansoccer.com. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012.
- ^ "Cape Mount Claims Emphatic 3-1 Victory Over Montserrado to Clinch County Meet Crown". liberiansoccer.com. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
- ^ "Grand Bassa Wins 2014 Liberian County competition in Soccer". cmiliberia.org. 20 January 2014.
- ^ "Bassa Conquers County Meet". liberiansoccer.com. 18 January 2016.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Liberia: National County Meet". 18 January 2023.