From hero to zero. Liberians protest at Weah’s political playbook and missing millions
January 8 – George Weah, Liberia’s most decorated player who now runs the country, is facing the biggest crisis of either his footballing or political career.
Africa
GFA cracks down on ‘illegal’ bookies offering markets on Ghana Premier League
January 6 – New Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has acted swiftly to crackdown on the illegal betting markets being offered by bookmakers on the country’s Premier League (GPL), threatening legal action.
Ghana starts 2020 with clear out of all national team coaching staff
January 3 – Ghana’s Football Association (GFA) has dismissed all its national team coaches, from age-group teams through to the full senior sides.
Fahmy to challenge Ahmad for African presidency on anti-corruption ticket
By Andrew Warshaw
January 2 – Amr Fahmy (pictured), the Egyptian official sacked last spring as African football’s number two administrator for lifting the lid on the allegedly corrupt activities of his boss, Ahmad, is gunning to unseat him by going for the region’s top job himself.
Eritrean players use Cecafa Cup to escape the country
December 30 – Seven players from Eritrea’s national football team disappeared following the end of the Cecafa Cup in Uganda earlier this month, according to tournament spokesman Rogers Mulindwa. Police continue their search for the players.
Ahmad says AFCON 2021 in Cameroon could return to Jan dates due to ‘climatic conditions’
By Osasu Obayiuwana
December 23 – Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad has told Insideworldfootball in Doha, Qatar, that a firm decision on the timing of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, to be staged in Cameroon, will be taken during CAF’s next executive committee meeting.
Uganda beat Kenya to take 15th Cecafa Cup title
December 20 – Hosts Uganda have lifted the Cecafa Cup, East Africa’s flagship regional competition, after defeating Eritrea 3-0 in the final.
Tanzania’s Simba club launches payment card with Equity Bank
By Osasu Obayiuwana
December 20 – In what is a unique drive, in African football, to increase revenue, leading Tanzanian club Simba has launched its own bank payment card. They hope to raise a minimum of $10 million through the deal.
CAF win Round 1 of contract dispute but Lagardère still punching for a knockout finish
By Paul Nicholson
December 16 – CAF has won the first round of the legal battle over the cancellation of its contract with Lagardère Sports. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Geneva ruled Friday rejected Lagardère’s application for emergency measures that would have allowed the agency to continue as per the contract.
More woe for Tanzania’s Malinzi as he is found guilty of forgery
December 13 – Disgraced former president of the Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF) and one-time FIFA standing committee member, Jamal Malinzi (pictured), has been found guilty of document forgery in his homeland .
Former CAF 1st VP Patel opens up on a leadership that has ‘shamed’ Africa
By Osasu Obayiuwana
December 12 – As CAF’s first Vice-President for seven years (2011-2017) and the Chairman of its Finance Committee, Suketu Patel was regarded as the financial brain-box of the African football governing body, during the latter stages of Cameroonian Issa Hayatou’s 29-year presidency.
CAS orders FIFA and CAF to respond to Bility claim that CAF takeover is illegal
By Osasu Obayiuwana
December 9 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, football’s world governing body, to file, within 14 days, a reply to the claims made against them by Musa Bility, the former President of the Liberia Football Association.
After 5-year hiatus, Sierra Leone’s Premier League is back in action
December 6 – A new chapter has begun following Sierra Leone football’s troubled recent past, with the Premier League having resumed for the first time in more than five years.
East Africa’s Cecafa Cup reduced to nine teams as nations withdraw
December 5 – East Africa’s flagship competition the Cecafa Cup will kick off with a depleted participants field after South Sudan, DR Congo and Ethiopia all withdrew from the competition.
Egyptian giants Ahly to switch stadiums while they wait for new sports complex
By Osasu Obayiuwana
December 5 – Cairo club Ahly have announced that they will now be staging their matches at the Al Salam stadium.