Fresh FIFA warning to Tanzania over government interference
March 13 – Tanzania has again been warned by FIFA that it will be suspended if the government interferes in the administration of the sport.
Africa
League plays on as violence flares again in Egypt
By Paul Nicholson
March 11 – Violence erupted in Egypt again over the weekend and the Egyptian FA headquarters were burned down after fans rioted after the second court ruling following the Port Said disaster in February 2012 handed down sentences to a further 54 people and confirmed the 21 death sentences already passed last month.
Nigerian anti-lesbian witch-hunt tapes released
By Mark Baber
March 11 – As FIFA seeks clarification over reported remarks by the head of the Nigeria Women Professional League (NWPL), a tape of the controversial interview has been released by Nigeria’s Premium Times and activists have called for a FIFA ban.
Diakite engineers stunning return to CAF ExCo
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).
Marathon man Hayatou takes his seat and criticises his critics
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Marrakech
March 11 – Issa Hayatou, elected without opposition to a record 7th term as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has hit out at critics of his lengthy tenure.
Hayatou opens CAF Congress praising African football as the showcase of Africa
By Osasu Obayiuwana, at the CAF Congress in Marrakech
March 9 – The 35th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to be spread over two days, began on Saturday at the Palais De Congrais in Marrakech, Morocco.
As African football’s elite gather, focus is on election rather than reform
By Osasu Obayiuwana, at the CAF congress in Marrakech, Morocco
March 9 – Backslaps, embraces and hearty chat are always on offer, when the great, the good and the miscreants in African football politics congregate, at least in public.
CAF blows full time on Jdidi refereeing complaints
By Osasu Obayiuwana at the CAF Congress in Marrakech
March 8 – Slim Jdidi, the Tunisian referee at the centre of the controversial 2013 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final between Ghana and Burkina Faso is unlikely to receive further sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent’s governing body.
CAS kicks out Anouma appeal leaving Hayatou to run unopposed
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – African football’s contentious presidential election was thrown even more sharply into focus today when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) threw out Jacques Anouma’s (pictured) last-ditch appeal against being barred from taking on the veteran incumbent Issa Hayatou.
Egyptian players refuse to train over unpaid wages at Ittihad
March 5 – Egypt has started its league after a year’s suspension following the Port Said disaster where 74 fans were killed, but now the financial burden of sustaining clubs and playing squads looks to be hitting as players at one club are refusing to train.
Federation bans Nigerian Lesbians from football activity
By Mark Baber
March 4 – Dilichukwu Onyedinma, chair of the Nigeria Women Football League and a member of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) executive committee, has reportedly announced after the Annual General Assembly on Thursday, that lesbianism is now officially banned from Nigerian football.
CAF steps into Congo row as League sets up interim committee
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Lagos
March 3 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has warned DR Congo’s government to stop interfering in its domestic football or face severe sanctions.
FIFA suspension forces Tanzanian government intervention
By Mark Baber
February 27 – In the wake of the Tanzanian government’s declaration that the 2012 Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) constitution was adopted in contravention of Tanzanian law, the TFF President, Leodegar Tenga (pictured), has called for an emergency Executive Committee meeting on Saturday in Dar es Salaam to discuss the way forward.
Libyan football has a long way to go to find stability
By Mark Baber
February 26 – Two years after the start of the Libyan revolution, football faces a major struggle to return to normality in Libya.
Kenya enters bidding ring for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
February 20 – Kenya has confirmed its intention to bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 as well as the 2017 Africa Youth Championships.