December 22 – Reports in the Ivory Coast suggest FIFA is preparing to make public its ruling on the electoral process for the presidency of the country’s football federation (FIF), a move that could have serious consequences for Jacques Anouma’s bid for control of African football.
Anouma, a former FIFA executive committee member, has received the backing of his government in his bid to take over from Confederation of African Football boss Ahmad Ahmad next March.
But that could be blocked if FIFA decides to organise the FIF election process after intervening in October when FIFA favourite and former international striker Didier Drogba’s candidacy failed to gain enough support and he protested the process was rigged.
With present incumbent Ahmad banned by FIFA pending his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Anouma is one of four contenders to take over at next March’s presidential election in Morocco.
But local reports suggest his campaign could be stopped in its tracks as a result of the rules regarding federations being placed under FIFA supervision.
That would be a major blow for Anouma in what is his second attempt to run for the top seat following his 2013 election bid which was blocked, cynically according to his supporters, by then boss Issa Hayatou.
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