FIFA turn to IMG to sell rights to CAF World Cup qualifiers
September 27 – IMG has picked up the worldwide media rights for African 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Africa
Samoura leads debate in Nigeria on expansion of Africa’s women’s game
September 23 – While FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been walking the halls of the UN and the financial district of New York, meeting with heads of state and financiers, FIFA’s general secretary Fatma Samoura has been treading the path of women’s football in Africa.
Eto’o brands Cameroonian FA boss Ngoya ‘a failure’ as he enters election race
September 22 – Samuel Eto’o has announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), labelling the tenure of the governing body’s current interim president Seidou Mbombo Njoya “a failure”.
CAF joins ICSS-led training initiative to boost Africa’s stadium security
September 16 – One of African football’s biggest problems across the continent is the condition and safety of stadiums. The African confederation highlighted the issues this year, even banning some from use. A UN-certified Sport Safety and Security Training and Advanced Education Programme for professionals in Africa football has been launched as a step towards finding solutions.
Egypt turn to Queiroz to galvanise World Cup qualifying campaign
September 9 – Egypt have hired Carlos Queiroz as their new manager to steer the Pharaohs to the World Cup in Qatar. The Portuguese will succeed Hossam El Badry.
Morocco flee Guinea as country’s security deteriorates
September 6 – Morocco had to flee Guinea on Sunday ahead of their World Cup qualifier against the ‘Syli Nationale’ because of a coup d’etat.
CAF adds Integral to TV rights partners with Nigerian deal
September 1 – The African confederation is gradually filling in its broadcast blanks with new partners. The latest being with sports marketing agency Integral in Nigeria.
CAF draw AFCON 2021 final groups, Motsepe chips in with promise of more prize money
By Samindra Kunti
August 18 – Hosts Cameroon will kick off the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations against Burkina Faso next year with Egypt – Nigeria and Algeria – Ivory Coast among the pick of the group stage matches following the finals draw in Yaounde.
CAF looks to public service TV in Africa to deliver on AFCON 2021 in challenged rights market
By Paul Nicholson
August 17 – After promises of new television deals across the African continent following the disastrous fallout from the Lagardere representation agreement that saw a $1 billion commercial guarantee replaced by blank TV screens and rapidly retreating sponsors, CAF has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations 2022 will be broadcast by the members of the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB).
Mauritian FA toilet-cam scandal under investigation
August 17 – The Mauritius FA has been plunged into an unusual scandal following an investigation involving alleged secret mobile phone video recordings of a women’s toilet at the federation’s headquarters.
Qatar 2022 qualifying: CAF tells 8 nations they can’t use home stadia
August 16 – Eight African countries have been stripped of home advantage in next month’s World Cup qualifiers after their grounds were deemed unfit at international level by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Stay-away Drogba quits Ivory Coast FA claiming it isn’t fit for purpose
August 11 – Former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba has stepped down from his post as vice-president of his national federation (AFI), accusing it of “inaction” on defending player interests.
Somali football shows solidarity as JCCI mourns dead players from bus bomb attack
August 9 – Somali football has rallied round JCCI FC in an act of solidarity after a terrorist bomb planted on the JCCI team bus killed three and wounded others on July 31.
Terrorist bomb attack on Somali club bus kills 3 and wounds 6
By Paul Nicholson
August 1 – Barely two weeks after the celebration of a full Mogadishu Stadium for a top of the table league clash, Somali football was struck by tragedy on Friday after a terrorist attack on a team bus killed two players, the bus driver and wounded five others.
Motsepe stands Africa behind bi-annual World Cup saying it will solve CAF’s cash crunch
July 19 – Africa has given its backing to staging the World Cup every two years – in direct opposition to Europe’s standpoint.