The Liberian National County Sports Meet is the top knockout county tournament of the Liberian football inaugurated in 1956. 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.
Quarterfinals (New Format): Beginning from the 2025/2026 tournament, the eight quarterfinalist teams are divided into two groups and play in a round-robin format, rather than the traditional single-game knockout, to increase competition opportunities. These matches are centralized in the capital, Monrovia, specifically at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex. Knockout Stage (Semifinals & Finals): The top teams from the quarterfinal groups advance to the semifinals, which are single-elimination matches. The winners proceed to the grand finale.
List of winners
1956 : Maryland County 1969 : Grand Cape Mount County 1974 : Grand Kru County 1977 : Grand Kru County 1978 : Nimba County 1979 : Nimba County 1985 : Grand Kru County 1987: Grand Kru County 1989: Grand Gedeh County 1990: Grand Bassa County 2004 : Gbarpolu County 2007 : Rivercess County 2008 : Bong County 2009 : Bomi County 2010 : Nimba County 2011 : Nimba County 2012 : Margibi County 2013 : Grand Cape Mount County 2014: Grand Bassa County 2015: N/A (*was cancelled due to the Ebola epidemic) 2016: Grand Bassa County 2017: Maryland County 2018 : Montserrado County 2019 : Bomi County 2020 : Grand Kru County 2021 : Lofa County 2022 : Nimba County 2023 : Nimba County 2024 : River Gee County 2025 : Lofa County 2026: Nimba County
+Previous Finals resultsseasonswinnersScoresRunners-up1956Maryland County0–0 (Maryland won on coin toss)Montserrado County1969Grand Cape Mount County3–1Montserrado County1974Grand Kru County - -1977Grand Kru County - -1978Nimba County - -1979Nimba County - -1985Grand Kru County2–0Grand Bassa County1987Grand Kru County4–1Margibi County1989Grand Gedeh County(Grand Gedeh won on coin toss)Grand Bassa County1990Grand Bassa County1–0Nimba County2004Gbarpolu County2–1Lofa County2007Rivercess County2–0Grand Gedeh County2008 Bong County4–3Rivercess County2009 Bomi County5–2River Gee County2010Nimba County2–0Grand Gedeh County2011Nimba County1–0Margibi County2012Margibi County2–0Nimba County2013Grand Cape Mount County1–1 (3–1 pen.)Montserrado County2014Grand Bassa County2–1Nimba County2015cancelled due to the Ebola virus epidemic in Liberia2016Grand Bassa County1–1 (3–1 pen.)Montserrado County2017Montserrado County1–1 (3–1 pen.)Maryland County2018Montserrado County2–0Bong County2019Bomi County1–1 (4–3 pen.)Margibi County2020Grand Kru County(Nimba County walked off the pitch)Nimba County2021 Lofa County3–1Montserrado County2022Nimba County2–1Gbarpolu County2023Nimba County3–2Lofa County2024River Gee County2–2 (4–1 pen.)Lofa County2025Lofa County2–1Grand Gedeh County2026Nimba County2-0Grand Kru County +Highest CarrierTeamsTitlesRunner ups1Nimba County742Grand Kru County513Grand Bassa County324Grand Cape Mount County205Bomi County206Montserrado County257Lofa County238Maryland County119Grand Gedeh County1310Gbarpolu County1111Rivercess County1112Bong County1113Margibi County1314River Gee County11
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 seventitles (1978, 1979, 2010, 2011, 2022, 2023, 2026). 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 11 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
External links Liberia National County Meet Liberiansoccer.com - "the official home of Liberian football" - "FIFA approved" - current official standings provided