Somali FA votes to end Abdiqani presidency, installing Ali Abdi Mohamed as interim
February 1 – The members of the Somali Football Federation (SFF) have voted to dismiss former president Abdiqani Said Arab at an extra ordinary congress.
Africa
Salah and Mane fire up Egypt and Senegal challenges for AFCON title
January 31 – In the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah led Egypt with a 2-1 extra-time victory past Morocco to set up a blockbuster semi-final against hosts Cameroon, who eliminated Gambia. On the other side of the draw, Senegal and Burkina Faso will compete for a place in the final.
CAF to the rescue: Africans say Infantino’s migrant saving comment was ‘misinterpreted’
January 31 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and several African FA presidents have came out in support of FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s controversial speech at the Council of Europe last week when he suggested the staging of biennial World Cups would provide a solution to the African migrant crisis.
CAF gets shirty with Comoros and issues fines
January 28 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined Comoros $5,000 for “not respecting shirt numbers” and $2,000 for delaying kick-off in their last-16 match against Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah’s penalty puts Egypt into last eight; Equatorial Guinea win shoot-out
January 27 – Equatorial Guinea upset Mali 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw to complete the last-eight field at the Africa Cup of Nations along with Egypt, who also needed a shoot-out to defeat Ivory Coast.
AFCON headaches: Mane plays on to set Senegal on quarter final path but is later hospitalised
January 26 – Liverpool’s Sadio Mane suffered a head injury during Senegal’s last-16 match with Cape Verde in the Africa Cup of Nations but still scored in a 2-0 victory before he was taken off.
AFCON tragedy: Motsepe says tournament will continue but opens investigation
By Samindra Kunti
January 26 – African football boss Patrice Motsepe has said that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and local organisers bear “collective responsibility” for the deaths of eight supporters in a crush outside Yaounde’s Olembe Stadium at the last-16 match between Cameroon and Comoros.
Tragedy at AFCON as 8 killed in crowd crush at Cameroon’s last 16 match in Yaoundé
January 25 – At least eight people died and another 38 were injured in a crush outside the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé at the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match between hosts Cameroon and Comoros.
AFCON: Gambia maintain first timer momentum to set up Cameroon clash
January 25 – Debutants Gambia are making their own history at the Africa Cup of Nations with their latest feat being the elimination of Guinea 1-0 to claim a quarterfinal spot against hosts Cameroon, who broke the hearts of first-timers Comoros 2-1.
AFCON: Tunisia knock Nigeria out; Gambians double up, literally
By Samindra Kunti
January 24 – The Super Eagles of Nigeria are on the way home from the Africa Cup of Nations after ten-men Tunisia and a strike from the inevitable Youssef Msakni proved too much for the Nigerians. They became the third of Africa’s powerhouse football nations – after Ghana and current champions Algeria – to depart the tournament early.
African final qualifying draw pitches Salah vs Mane for a place at Qatar 2022
January 23 – Egypt vs Senegal and Nigeria vs Ghana will headline Africa’s World Cup playoffs to decide the continent’s five representatives at the finals in Qatar.
Champions Algeria crash out of AFCON winless, Gambia and Comoros make last 16
By Samindra Kunti
January 21 – Defending champions Algeria exited the Africa Cup of Nations after a lacklustre 3-1 defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast. With a single point from three matches, the North Africans finished bottom of Group E.
AFCON: Comoros surprise win ends Ghana’s tournament
January 19 – Comoros stunned Ghana 3-2 with their first-ever win at the Africa Cup of Nations to eliminate the Black Stars from the continental finals in the group stage.
Is Infantino losing Africa? CAF furiously questions FIFA ‘partnership’ over Gueye ban
By Paul Nicholson
January 19 – Cracks look to be appearing in FIFA’s suffocating dominance of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), divisions that could signal a weakening FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s powerbase within his core support.
AFCON: CAS overrules FIFA and allows banned Papa Gueye back into Senegal team
January 18 – In a snub to FIFA, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned a decision to suspend Pape Gueye from the African Cup of Nations with the Marseille midfielder now free to play for Senegal.