Monrovia –The champions of the national high school championship football tournament of Liberia, Nathan F. Reeves Charity Memorial High School, will depart Monrovia on Thursday, June 25, for Kumasi, Ghana, to represent the country in a historic international friendly against Ghana’s Ashanti Regional Champions, Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS).
By: Christopher C. Walker, christopherc.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Friday, June 26, at the Paa Joe Stadium in Kumasi.
The fixture is part of an educational and youth sports exchange initiative aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between Liberia and Ghana through sports, culture, and youth development.
Charity Memorial High School earned the slot after clinching the 2025/2026 National High School Football Championship title, defeating Buchanan Open Bible Standard School in the grand final at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex in Paynesville.
As part of the championship package, organizers promised the winner an international friendly match in either Ghana or Nigeria a commitment that has now been fulfilled.
According to officials of the National High School Sports Association of Liberia, a 21-member delegation comprising players and team officials will make the trip with all travel, accommodation, and feeding expenses fully covered by the organizers.
The team is expected to arrive in Ghana on Thursday, play the match on Friday, and return home on Saturday.
The match has received official backing from the Ghana Education Service (GES).
In a communication dated June 10, 2026, addressed to the Embassy of Liberia in Accra, GES Director-General Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis reaffirmed Ghana’s support for the exchange program and confirmed that all arrangements for the fixture have been finalized.
“We are pleased to reaffirm our acceptance of this exchange initiative between Ghana and Liberia, which seeks to utilize football and cultural exchanges as a means of promoting youth empowerment, fostering shared experiences among students, and strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between our two countries,” Prof. Davis stated.
The GES added that it has officially notified authorities in the Ashanti Region and the administration of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School to facilitate seamless preparations for the event.
Ahead of their departure, Charity Memorial received a major morale boost following a courtesy visit to Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah at her SKD Sports Complex office.
Speaking during the visit, Principal Pastor Shadrick B. Cassell Jr. thanked the Minister for hosting the team and offering words of encouragement ahead of the historic assignment.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to meet with the Minister and receive her blessings as our students prepare to represent Liberia on the international stage,” Pastor Cassell said.
Minister Kruah congratulated the school for its achievements and reminded the players of the weight of the task ahead.
“You are carrying the hopes and pride of Liberia. Represent your country with honor, lift the Liberian flag high, and do everything within your power to bring victory back home,” Minister Kruah urged the delegation.
The Liberian champions’ squad depth has been boosted by the inclusion of standout players Ralph Weah and Alvin Kollie, who were granted official clearance by their respective clubs to join the school team for the tour.
Charity Memorial High School becomes only the second Liberian school to participate in an international football engagement in Ghana under the National High School Sports initiative.
Worldwide High School of Monrovia was the first beneficiary after winning the inaugural edition of the competition.
The National High School Sports Championship, originally conceptualized by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai during his tenure as Vice President, was created to boost school enrollment and student participation through sports across Liberia.
For Charity Memorial, the match adds another chapter to an already glowing football legacy.
The institution currently holds both the Inter-School Sports Association (ISSA) National Championship and the National High School Football Championship titles, cementing its status as the country’s dominant school football program.
Meanwhile, OKESS is expected to provide a stern test for the Liberian champions. The Ghanaian powerhouse enters the contest as the reigning champions of the Ashanti Region with a fierce reputation in West African high school football.
The match will be broadcast live on the state radio, ELBC, and is expected to attract massive interest from football enthusiasts across both West African nations.
Coach Terry Sheriff name Squad for the Ghana Trip
Head Coach Terry Sheriff has officially released his 16-man squad for the international friendly.
The selection features a heavy core from the Tebeh Football Academy, complemented by top-tier talent from Semira FC, Redeem Football Academy, Bea Mountain FC, Invincible Eleven (I.E.), and Thunder FC.
Goalkeepers & Defenders
Harris Mulbah (Tebeh Football Academy), Lester Hills (Tebeh Football Academy), Prince Smith (Tebeh Football Academy), Bedellson Bedell (Tebeh Football Academy), and Patrick Sackie (Tebeh Football Academy)
Midfielders
Nawoe Fineboy (Tebeh Football Academy), Prince Lewis (Tebeh Football Academy),D. Dempster Freeman (Tebeh Football Academy), Dekegar Suah (Semira Football Club), and Redemption Tarlue (Redeem Football Academy)
Forwards
Ralph Nuch Weah (Bea Mountain FC), Alvin Kollie (Invincible Eleven – I.E.), Roland Kilima (Tebeh Football Academy), Sulimana Diallo (Tebeh Football Academy), David Vasco Jaco (Thunder FC), and Houston M. Carter (Thunder FC)
Technical Staff:
* Head Coach: Terry S. Sheriff
* Assistant Coach: Mark Jackson
