The Monrovia Football Academy Under 15 Girls won the USA Cup in Minnesota

President George Manneh Weah has congratulated the Monrovia Football Academy’s Under 15 Girl team for being crowned champions of the USA Cup in Minnesota on Saturday, July 20, 2019. The tournament ran from July 16 to 20, 2019.

The Liberian girls fought hard to defeat Michigan’s Vardar United 3-2 in post-match penalties after regular time ended 2-2 resulting into fans storming the field to celebrate the Liberian girls’ victory.

The Liberian side won the admiration of the spectators at the National Sports Center from their first game as their displayed classical football defeating Maplebrook Blaze 7-1.

Monrovia Football Academy went on to beat Fusion SC Select in the semifinal to setup a meeting with Michigan Vardar United. The co-founder of MFA former Liberian international midfielder Sekou Munubah said the experience his girls got from the tournament is something he looks forward to every year.

He said winning the tournament shows that there are talents in Liberia that need time and the opportunity to nurture.

MFA departed the country Saturday, July 13 for the United States to participate in the week long tournament.

The Academy’s U-15 Girl team was invited by Major League Soccer club, Minnesota United, to participate in the 35th Edition of the USA Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The USA Cup attracts more than 1,000 teams every year, making it one of the biggest youth football tournaments in the world. It is held annually at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The National Sports Center is one of the best football facilities in the world, with more than 50 full-sized grass pitches.

MFA took 14-female students and 3-staff members to the tournament.

MFA’s U-15 Girl team is the first Liberian team in history to participate in the USA Cup.



As special invitees of MLS club, MFA girls also attended Minnesota United’s friendly match against English Premier League club Aston Villa FC, on July 17.

MFA, a flagship of LEAD Africa, is the first school in Liberia to combine high-quality education with professional football training.

LEAD Monrovia Football Academy provides Liberia’s talented youth with academic classes, football training, and life skills lessons to improve academic performance, break down gender barriers, and prepares our students to lead positive change in Liberia.

Meanwhile, President George Weah has congratulated the Girls of MFA upon winning the tournament.

In a statement released on the official Facebook Page of the former football icon, said the Liberian kids’ performance was splendid and has put the country name on the map of football once again.

“I am pleased to congratulate the ‘LEAD Monrovia Football Academy Under 15 Girls soccer team’ for their splendid performance while representing Liberia at the just-ended ‘Target USA Cup’ tournament held in the United States; and for emerging as Champions of the competition.”

“The Government and People of Liberia are very proud of this achievement and truly grateful for the level of pride it has brought to our Nation. This feat signifies the rich talents our youths possess, and their ability to harness those talents when given the opportunity. It also serves as an embodiment of resilience, hard-work and discipline,” the Chief Patron of sports wrote.

“The victory of our girls further renews our vigor as a government to invest more into our youths—through the establishment of more youth-based programs that will cultivate the talents of our young people thereby laying a solid foundation for our future generation.” As we celebrate this milestone accomplishment, I’d like to also extend profound thanks and gratitude to the Government and people of the United States; as well as the organizers of the ‘Target USA Cup’ tournament for affording our Liberian Under 15 team the opportunity to gain international exposure by participating in this competition. Special thanks also go to the leadership of the Monrovia Football Academy, the trainers and coaches for their role in preparing the girls for this contest. We are truly gratified by the level of discipline, sportsmanship and preparedness the girls exhibited during the tournament. They are truly our Nation’s pride and Once again, Congratulations to the girls!” the President said in appreciating the girls.