Nigerian FA suspends activity as coronavirus impact reaches Africa
March 19 – Nigeria has become the latest country to suspend all football activities in the global fight against the coronavirus.
Africa
CAF postpone CHAN in Cameroon in April, but award May club finals
March 18 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN), an international tournament with domestic-based players only, amid growing concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Zambia women beat Cameroon to qualify for first Olympic tournament
March 11 – Zambia have qualified for the first time for the Olympic Women’s Football tournament following a 2-1 victory over Cameroon.
Djibouti and Mauritania pledge to help each other take on Africa’s big guns
March 6 – Djibouti and Mauritania will enhance their cooperation after the FAs of both countries signed a partnership on Thursday.
Exclusive: Omari defends CAF cash for Umrah trip and says Lagardere door is not closed
By Osasu Obayiuwana
March 5 – Constant Omari, first Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has told Insideworldfootball that “there is nothing wrong” in the expenditure of CAF’s funds to send several FA/Federation Presidents to the ‘Umrah’, the lesser Hadj, in Saudi Arabia.
Musical chairs: CAF moves swiftly to appoint Bah as acting general secretary
By Paul Nicholson
March 4 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed commercial director Abdelmounaïm Bah as Acting General Secretary following the surprise resignation of fellow Moroccan Mouad Hajji yesterday.
Ahmad loses more senior staff as Hajji quits as CAF general secretary
By Paul Nicholson
March 3 – Crisis-hit Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken another blow with the resignation of Secretary General Mouad Hajji (pictured). Haji, a close confidant and supporter of CAF president Ahmad, had only been in the post since April 2019.
On the run: Ahmad’s Madagascan successor Rabekoto missing as corruption probe bites
March 2 – Madagascar’s FA president is reported to have disappeared just as he is being investigated for corruption.
Zimbabwe face playing at neutral venues after CAF investigators condemn stadia
February 27 – Zimbabwe has been barred by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from hosting any international matches until further notice after its main stadiums failed to meet required standards, throwing an upcoming African Nations Cup fixture and home World Cup qualifiers later in the year into jeopardy.
Egyptian derby abandoned as no-show Zamalek hand win to arch rivals Al Ahly
February 26 – Egypt’s top-flight club Zamalek face strong sanctions after failing to show up for their hotly anticipated Cairo derby against Al Ahly, causing the game to be abandoned.
Stadium repairs to force Rwanda to pull out of CAF Champions League final hosting
By Osasu Obayiuwana
February 26 – Repairs being done to the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali will knock out Rwanda from staging May’s CAF Champions’ League final.
Osasu Obayiuwana: CAF’s failure to pay officials opens body up to new integrity threats
With just days to the start of the knockout stages of the CAF Champions’ League and the Confederation Cup, with eight very tough quarter-final matches in both competitions, the quality of officiating from the referees, as well as the pre-game preparations of CAF’s match co-ordinators, and their support staff, will be key in ensuring that the matches go without incident.
Senegal launches $250m stadium build with Youth Olympics and AFCON targeted
By David Owen
February 25 – Senegalese President Macky Sall has launched construction of a new 50,000-capacity stadium in the West African country that is destined to stage events at the 2022 Youth Olympic Games.
Amr Fahmy, former CAF exec who blew whistle on corruption, dies aged 36
By Andrew Warshaw
February 24 – Amr Fahmy, former general secretary of the African Football Confederation who blew the whistle on the corrupt activities of his boss Ahmad Amhad, has died of cancer at the age of 36.
Tunisia join Morocco and Rwanda in bid to host CAF Champions League final
February 21 – Tunisia have become the latest country to officially submit a bid to host this year’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final on May 29.