The stage has been set for the quarterfinals of the 2015-16 National County Meet, with four exciting fixtures at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) scheduled between January 3-9, 2016.

After playing two to three group stage matches, eight of the biggest counties have found themselves three steps closer to winning the 2016 County Meet.

Highlighting how elite the quarter finals is, the eight teams have eight County Meet Championships between them, with only Maryland, Lofa, Montserrado, and Grand Gedeh still waiting for their first taste of success in the competition.

COUNTY MEET MATCH DAY 3 RECAP:
In Group I, things have become more confusing after Sinoe County filed a protest during their 1-3 loss against the 2008 champions Bong County. According to the Minister of Youth & Sports, Eugene Nagbe, Sinoe County accused Bong County of fielding ineligible players during their match. The Competition Committee of the County Meet will begin investigating Sinoe County’s claims on Friday, December 18, 2015 while a Technical Meeting between the two parties is expected to be held at the office of the Ministry of Youth & Sports on Monday, December 21, 2015.

In the other match in Group I, defending champions and two-time winners Grand Bassa County qualified after their 1-0 win against Rivercess County.

If the results from the last two matches in Group I remain the same, Bong County will advance to the quarterfinals as Group Winners while Grand Bassa County will finish as Runners-up; however, if the Ministry of Youth & Sports award three points and two goals to Sinoe County over Bong County, then Grand Bassa County will finish as Group Winners while River Gee County will squeeze through as Runners-up.

In Group II, four-time winners Nimba County defeated Bomi County 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals as Group Winners while Maryland County were happy to finish as Runners-up despite their 3-5 loss to Grand Cape Mount County.

In Group III, Lofa County defeated Grand Kru County 1-0 to seal their place in the quarterfinals as Group Winners while Grand Gedeh County defeated Rivercess County 2-0 to qualify as Runners-up.

Lastly in Group IV, Montserrado were the first county to book their place in the final eight, topping their group despite losing their last match 0-1 to Gbarpolu County after they won their opening match against Margibi County 3-1. The 2004 champions Gbarpolu County also squeezed through as runners-up in Group IV despite losing to Margibi County 0-1.

Meanwhile, the Group Winners and Runners-up from the various venues across the country will now travel to Monrovia, Liberia for the quarterfinal stage which will commence on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

2015-16 MYS COUNTY MEET QUARTER-FINALS PAIRINGS

(pending the Bong County vs. Sinoe County protest)

Contributors: Martina Brooks, T. Kla Wesley, Abraham Wheon, Augustus Audekina-Doe, Boy Dolo, Varflay Kamara.