Liberia's national football team, the Lone Star, has officially appointed Moroccan tactician Mohammed Adil Erradi as head coach on a mission to improve the team's competitiveness and push for qualification to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The signing ceremony, held at the Liberia Football Association (LFA) headquarters in Congo Town, drew senior government officials and LFA committee members in a show of support for the new technical leadership.
LFA President Mustapha Raji expressed appreciation to the Government of Liberia for its backing in finalizing the appointment, describing the moment as a key step in rebuilding the national team.
"It is a favourable moment for us as we prepare for AFCON 2027, World Cup qualifiers, and other activities of our national team," Raji said. "We are happy and feel well-assured of the national government's commitment to supporting the Lone Star. With the help of our Mobilization Committee and the ministry, we are putting everything in place to ensure our coach has the tools to succeed."
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Minister of Youth and Sports Atty. Jeror Cole Bangalu Kruah also praised the initiative, describing the Lone Star as a unifying national symbol.
"Our national football team is the one team that brings us together and unites us across all spheres of our country," Kruah said. "Today is a historic moment. We commit the government's continued technical and financial support to ensure the LFA has all it takes to empower Coach Erradi. We look forward to qualifying for AFCON, and hopefully the World Cup as well. It has been a very long time since Liberia surfaced on the global stage, and we are ready to fight."
Speaking in English for the first time to the Liberian public, Coach Mohammed Adil Erradi expressed excitement and determination to take on the challenge of rebuilding the Lone Star.
"I am so happy to take this challenge," Erradi said. "I have a lot of motivation to do something special with the Liberian national team. My goal is to make our national team as high as possible on the African continent."
He outlined a clear tactical philosophy focused on competitiveness, discipline, and consistency both home and away.
"What I will bring first is a very competitive team. This is the most important thing," he said. "We must build a competitive team that can not only win here in Monrovia but also be very difficult to lose to when playing outside. This is the true key to success for qualification."
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Erradi also paid tribute to Liberia's football history, highlighting the global legacy of former Ballon d'Or winner George Weah.
"Liberia is a big country for football because it has a huge history in the world game. The best player who played for Liberia, George Weah, won the Ballon d'Or in Europe. It is a big thing, but it also brings an enormous responsibility," he said.
The Moroccan coach emphasized that selection will be strictly merit-based, regardless of where players are based, stating that scouting has already been ongoing for several months.
"I know our players one by one. For three months, I have followed every player--overseas and in Liberia--tracking the minutes they play, the positions they play, and their form. The players who deserve their position will play," he warned.
Erradi said his selection strategy will focus on four key attributes: versatility, mental strength, physical fitness, and leadership.
He explained that modern football requires adaptable players capable of performing multiple roles, strong psychological resilience under pressure, peak physical conditioning, and natural leadership qualities that inspire teammates.
Reinforcing his philosophy, the new Lone Star coach stressed collective discipline over individual talent.
"The most important thing is the team, not individual stars," Erradi said. "We must choose a responsible, competitive profile--players who will give everything for the national colors. If we work hard, stay responsible, and believe, we can achieve this goal together."
With a new technical direction now in place, Liberia begins a renewed push toward AFCON 2027 qualification, backed by government support and high expectations from football stakeholders.
