Monrovia, Liberia – FIFA and CAF-approved dugout chairs have been put into service at the SKD Sports Complex by the Liberian government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The additional seats were put into service after the Liberia Football Association (LFA) received warnings from the two football governing bodies about the need to keep improving SKD Stadium’s infrastructure to meet international stadium standards.
Due to inadequate conditions, CAF prohibited hundreds of stadiums, including the SKD, from holding Class-A games. Massive modifications were necessary as a result of the ban, including improvements to the dressing rooms, individual spectator seats, a well-equipped media tribune, contemporary floodlights, a standby generator, re-grassing, and first aid and treatment facilities.
Despite two previous Chinese-funded refurbishment projects totaling US$18 million during the time of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia was still prohibited.
The administration of former President George M. Weah responded to the restriction by launching a series of improvements, beginning with a US$160,000 initial investment. Significant upgrades, such as bucket seats, dressing rooms, media and medical centers, doping rooms, and a VIP stand, were made possible by this expenditure, which subsequently rose to US$519,000. In addition, US$700,000 was set aside to replace the degraded natural grass with artificial turf that has FIFA approval. But the stadium couldn’t accommodate night games since the illumination system wasn’t fixed.
Youth and Sports MinisterCllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu told sports journalists on Monday, March 17, 2025, that the commissioning of the seats is a part of the government’s plan to renovate the stadium in order to comply with FIFA and CAF regulations.
“This is in fulfillment of our theme: Inclusive Development Through Sports. This is 100% GOL-funded through the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” Minister Bangalu said.
He added that the Ministry’s next goal will be to upgrade the stadium’s lighting system in order that night games could resume. The last round of efforts to review and update the current analog infrastructure was completed earlier this year when Greenfield Electrical Turf Inc. evaluated the floodlighting system.
It has been 40 years since the stadium was built. Analog lighting was used, however all stadiums now use digital illumination. This entails replacing all of the lighting system’s components, Bangalu said. For the stadium floodlight replacement project, the government has paid half of the vendors, the Minister also told the public, and construction is anticipated to start in the next two weeks.
Mustapha Raji, the president of the LFA, also spoke during the event and praised the government for restoring the dugout seats that were destroyed. For the football community and our players, this is fantastic news. He remarked, “This remarkable improvement is greatly appreciated at the LFA.”
As the senior national team gets ready for its two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this week, the chairs were put in place on Monday. At the SKD Sports Complex, Liberia will host Group H leaders Tunisia on March 19 and São Tomé and Príncipe on March 24, 2025.
Liberia, only three points behind Tunisia in third place with seven points, is still in the running. The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the winner of the group will advance straight to the tournament. Africa’s representation in the intercontinental qualifying playoff will be decided by a playoff involving four of the nine group runners-up.
