September 11 – Originally sold as ‘help’ to run the organisation and conduct an audit of its financial affairs, to be led by FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura in an additional role as FIFA Delegate for Africa, the takeover has now morphed into what is being called a CAF-FIFA Reform Task Force.
If there was any doubt that this was only going to be a role of guidance and advice from Big Brother FIFA, that doubt can well and truly be kicked into the long grass as Africa is prepared for its Brave New World…though perhaps in more of an Orwellian 1984 style.
The first meeting of the Reform Task Force took place yesterday at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, with no other than FIFA president Gianni Infantino, fresh from sharing political chummy pleasantries with new best friend, US president Donald Trump.
One wonders how that was perceived in Muslim north Africa in particular.
The meeting, according to a CAF communique, was to cover the three main areas of financial management, good governance and internal procedures.
“Key topics of discussion at today’s meeting will include auditing, underlining transparency in all of CAFs operations, necessity for the highest standards of compliance, effective and professional organisation of competitions, growth and development of African football as well as advancement and support for CAF’s 54 member associations,” said the communique.
“The meeting will be attended by a panel of experts from sport, governance and industry as well as FIFA president Gianni Infantino, CAF president Ahmed Ahmed, CAF secretary general Mouad Hajji and general delegate for Africa Fatma Samoura.”
The reform Task Force itself is comprised of five members: Janet Katisya, Kenya; Abdoulaye Diop, Mali; Hassan El Shafei, Egypt; Martin Ngoga, Rwanda; and Anin Yenoah, Ghana.
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