Africa-Press – Liberia. The 2025 ArcelorMittal Cup exploded into action this past Saturday, delivering a spectacular opening round filled with goals and intense regional pride across Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties.
Twenty-one districts, representing ArcelorMittal’s operating areas, have begun their quest for glory in this prestigious tournament. The competition is run with vital technical support from the Liberia Football Association (LFA), while the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) is managing comprehensive media coverage.
Match Day Results: Dominance and Decisive Wins
Grand Bassa County: District #1 Secures Clean Sheet
District #1 set a commanding tone in Buchanan with a comprehensive 3–0 victory over District #2 at the historic Doris Williams Stadium. The deadlock was broken in the closing minutes of the first half by Michael Artis. The victory was cemented late in the second half, with Jackson Horace (77th minute) and Blessings Yeah (81st minute) finding the net to ensure a perfect start for their side.
Bong County: Jorquelleh #1 Delivers Thunderous Performance
Jorquelleh District #1 delivered the most emphatic result of the day, crushing Jorquelleh District #2 with a 4–1 scoreline. An early flurry of goals from Noah Kerkula and Eric Suah put District #1 firmly in control. Joe Kollie added a composed finish for a third before the break, extending the lead. While District #2 struggled to mount a true comeback, Solomon Fofana managed to claw back a late consolation goal from the penalty spot.
Nimba County: District #8 Clinches Derby Win in Ganta
At the recently refurbished Gompa Stadium in Ganta, District #8 overcame their neighbouring rivals, District #9, with a decisive 3–1 scoreline. District #8 took control early, marching into the interval with a comfortable 2–0 advantage. District #9 pulled one goal back in the second half, injecting some tension, but District #8 quickly restored their two-goal cushion by converting a late penalty, closing out the match in commanding fashion.
Investment and Road to the Championship
ArcelorMittal Liberia’s commitment to the competition is significant, investing a total of US$6,000 in cash prizes. Furthermore, each participating district receives US$400 in preparatory support, two sets of branded kits, and 25 pairs of football boots.
The strategic US$5,250 partnership with SWAL empowers the association with full responsibility for branding and media coverage, leveraging its extensive network across the participating counties. This collaboration was recently described by SWAL as “a significant milestone in strengthening sports institutions and advancing football development nationwide.”
The preliminary round of the tournament concludes on November 30. The county champions will then converge in Ganta, Nimba County, from December 3–7 for the high-stakes Grand Championship.
County champions will each earn US$1,000, while the overall winner of the ArcelorMittal Cup will pocket US$2,000. The overall runners-up will also take home a generous prize of US$1,000.
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