By Osasu Obayiuwana in Marrakech, Morocco
March 11 – In what can only be termed as the ultimate comeback, Mali’s Amadou Diakite (pictured), the disgraced former FIFA executive committee member, has returned to the top of continental football administration, winning another four-year term on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Diakite, who was found guilty of ethical violations of the FIFA code, for his attempt to manipulate the vote for the 2018/2022 World Cup hosts, defeated Hassan Musa Bility and Augustin Senghor, presidents of the Liberian and Senegal federations respectively, in Sunday’s vote.
Diakite, who completed his two-year ban from “all football activities” on October 20th 2012, is alongside Slim Aloulou, another former member of the FIFA executive committee, a very close political associate of CAF president Issa Hayatou.
The Malian, who received a resounding endorsement of the continent’s national association/federation presidents, getting 35 out of a possible 54 votes at the CAF elective congress in Marrakech, had faced domestic opposition to his return.
In another development, Moucharafou Anjorin, the controversial president of the Benin Federation, has finally won a seat on the executive committee.
Anjorin’s success, after his failed attempt in 2011, would certainly be regarded, by knowledgeable watchers of African football politics, as a reward for his years of loyalty to CAF president Issa Hayatou.
Whilst at the 2011 FIFA elective congress in Zurich, Anjorin uttered rather uncomplimentary (some would say extremely rude) remarks about English FA chairman David Bernstein, who demanded that the presidential vote be postponed.
Bernstein’s request was in the wake of the controversy that led to the withdrawal of Mohamed Bin Hammam, then president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), from the contest. Bin Hammam has since received a life ban from FIFA.
Anjorin has also been in the thick of legal turmoil in his home country, after allegations of financial impropriety, over missing sponsorship funds, led to his initial removal as president of the Benin Football Federation (FBF) following a vote of no confidence three years ago.
He subsequently spent several months in a Benin prison, after which he was released and restored to his position, after FIFA threatened Benin with a ban, for political interference, in the affairs of the federation.
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