MONROVIA, Montserrado – Liberian football followers received one of the best news in 2017, after senior members of the Liberia Football Association were appointed by the Africa’s football governing body, the Confederation of African Football, into its standing committees.

The secretary-general of the LFA, Emmanuel O. Deah, and a member of the LFA executive committee, Ciata Bishop, were appointed by CAF following an executive committee meeting that was held in Ghana.

Deah was named as one of the organizing committee members for various youth versions of the African Cup of Nations. Deah, who replaced the late Alphonso Armah in January 2016, will be part of a committee responsible for organizing the U-17, U-20, and U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, Bishop was appointed as a member of the organizing committee for women’s football.

Their appointment means that three LFA executives now work within the African football body. Bishop and Deah join the president of the Liberia Football Association, Musa Hassan Bility, who is already serving on three committees within CAF.

Bility was elected as a member of CAF’s executive committee in March 2017. He also serves on CAF’s emergency committee and as president of the organizing committee for the African Nations Championship, which is restricted to players playing in the various domestic leagues on the continent.

Speaking to The Bush Chicken after his appointment, the LFA secretary general, Deah, expressed his gratitude for the appointment and said it was an honor for him to represent Liberia at the continental stage.

“It is a very huge task, especially when it is my first time on such committee,” he said. “It is a challenge I’m ready to take on. It’s a boost for me and the country at large. I’m there as an individual, but representing Liberia at the continental level.”

The recent appointment by the LFA officials is believed to be influenced by the LFA president, Bility, who is a close friend of newly elected CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad.

Featured photo courtesy of Augustus Audekina-Doe