Monrovia – LPRC Oilers FC has officially unveiled experienced football tactician Cooper M. Sannah as its new head coach on a two-season contract, signaling the club’s determination to challenge for major honors during the upcoming 2026/2027 Liberia Football Association (LFA) First Division League season.
By Christopher C. Walker christopherc.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com
The unveiling ceremony, held at the club’s corporate headquarters on Thursday, June 11, marked the beginning of a new era for the “Oil Boys,” who are seeking to build on last season’s fourth-place finish and re-establish themselves among Liberia’s elite football institutions.
Sannah replaces Keatu Smith, who guided the club to a respectable top-four campaign but ultimately fell short of sustaining a genuine title challenge.
Speaking to journalists following his unveiling, Coach Sannah expressed enthusiasm about returning to one of the country’s most historic clubs, outlining an ambitious roadmap to build a highly competitive roster.
“Coming to the home of the Oilers feels right,” Sannah said. “This is a club with a proud history, passionate supporters, and tremendous potential. I am ready to get to work and help build a team that everyone associated with the club can be proud of.”
The appointment is widely viewed by local sports pundits as a major coup for the Oilers as management seeks to strengthen its technical leadership, mount a serious challenge for domestic silverware, and lay the groundwork for future CAF continental competitions.
Sannah arrives with more than a decade of top-flight coaching experience and is regarded as one of Liberia’s most astute football minds.
A former defensive midfielder, he transitioned into coaching after his playing career, building a reputation for developing grassroots talent, organizing disciplined defensive blocks, and implementing pragmatic, tactically effective systems.
His extensive coaching résumé includes prominent spells with Barrack Young Controllers (BYC), Manding Jallah FC, LISCR FC, Watanga FC, Bea Mountain FC, and Heaven Eleven FC.
He has also served as Deputy Head Coach of Liberia’s Under-20 National Team, contributing to the development of several current senior national team stars.
Notably, his latest appointment sees him achieve a unique milestone in local football trivia, becoming the first Liberian coach to manage three different First Division clubs within a single calendar year.
In 2026 alone, Sannah has taken the technical reins at Bea Mountain FC, Heaven Eleven FC, and now LPRC Oilers FC.
During the unveiling ceremony, the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) and Chief Patron of Sports, Amos Tweh, praised the club’s board for securing Sannah’s signature and expressed absolute confidence in his leadership.
“We entrusted our football administration with the responsibility of identifying the right leader for this team, and they have delivered,” Tweh stated. “We believe Coach Sannah possesses the experience, leadership, and vision necessary to move this club forward.”
Tweh further emphasized that the state-owned enterprise is committed to seeing the club project its brand beyond the borders of Liberia.
“We are confident that, working together with the players, supporters, and management, he will help position Oilers among the best teams on the continent,” Tweh added.
The Managing Director also issued a directive to the new technical staff to aggressively scout quality talent capable of competing at the highest level.
“Liberia is blessed with immense football talent. We encourage the technical team to identify and recruit the very best players available, whether locally or internationally, as we continue building a team capable of achieving greatness,” he said.
In response, Sannah thanked the LPRC management for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work closely with the playing body, backroom staff, and the fans to foster a disciplined winning culture.
With preseason preparations scheduled to kick off shortly, expectations are already soaring among Oilers’ faithful.
