UEFA doesn’t Conduct Coaching Courses Outside of Europe European football Body issues Clarity As Keita’s Credential questioned

The Union of European Football Association (UEFA), which governs football in Europe, says it doesn’t conduct its coaching courses outside of Europe.

A UEFA spokesman said all coaching diplomas or licenses are conducted through member associations in Europe.

It includes UEFA Pro Diploma or License, UEFA ‘A’ Diploma, UEFA ‘B’ Diploma and UEFA ‘C’ Diploma.

UEFA specialist qualifications, per federation or association, also include Youth ‘B’, Elite Youth ‘A’, Goalkeeper ‘A’, Goalkeeper ‘B’ and Futsal ‘B’ levels.

This is part of an undercover investigation into the coaching credentials of Liberia’s Head Coach Ansu Keita, who claims he holds a UEFA ‘B’ License, first from Canada and later from England.

Screenshots of WhatsApp messages from the Liberia Football Association (LFA) technical and Youth Development Committee (TYDC) chat room showed curricula vitae or curricula vitarum (CVs) submitted by applicants for the vacant position as head coach of Liberia’s men’s senior national team in 2022.

In his first CV, Keita claimed he obtained a UEFA ‘B’ License from Canada, which was deleted and another CV was submitted with a UEFA ‘B’ License obtained from England in 2010.

But Keita didn’t submit a copy (scan or photocopy) of his license obtained from England.

Keita has been facing scrutiny and inquiries in recent times about his credentials from coaches and journalists in various Liberian football chat rooms but only showed photos of him and some renowned coaches, including Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and Marseille coach Gennaro Gattuso.

He was subsequently selected by the panel headed by LFA executive committee member Ivan G. Brown, who chairs the TYDC.

Keita was unveiled at an elaborate news conference at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on 25 January 2023.

He signed a two-year contract, worth US$5,000 per month, a win bonus of

US$1,500, and monthly internet package of US$150, a feeding allowance of US$500, a gasoline allowance of US$200, US$100 for laundry and US$50 for car wash and a round trip ticket annually to visit his family in Canada.

Keita, who said at the unveiling ceremony that he’s not God to perform

miracles, has been tasked with qualifying Liberia for the 2023 and 2025 Africa Cups of Nations, 2026 World Cup finals and building a strong local team that will qualify for the next African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals.

But he has failed in his first task of qualifying Liberia to the delayed Afcon finals in Ivory Coast in January 2024.

Liberia lost 3-0 to Morocco at the Stade Adrar in Agadir on 17 October 2023 to finish bottom of Group K with a point after three defeats and a draw. South Africa finished second to Morocco.

Liberia also drew 2-2 to South Africa in Johannesburg on 24 March 2023 and lost 2-1 to South Africa at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) sports complex in Paynesville on 28 March 2023 under Keita’s guidance.

With Keita in the dugout, Liberia lost 3-2 to Libya in Khouribga on 14 October 2023 and 3-1 to Ghana in Accra on 12 September 2023 in international friendlies.

Keita will hope to achieve his second mandate when the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers begin with Liberia playing Malawi on 17 November 2023 and Equatorial Guinea on 20 November 2023 at the SKD.

But as it stands, neither Keita nor the LFA has convinced Liberians about his coaching credentials.