Crowd stampede kills one and injures 40 in Madagascar
September 10 – At least one person has been killed and nearly 40 injured in the latest stampede to occur at an African stadium with tragic consequences.
Africa
FIFA lengthens Nyantakyi’s ban as investigation continues
September 6 – FIFA has extended its ban from all football activities on Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi, the second most powerful official in African football, by an additional 45 days.
Bility’s Liberian reign nears end as Raji set to takeover in unopposed election
By Paul Nicholson
September 6 – Musa Bility’s controversial and protracted reign as president of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) will officially come to end this weekend with Mustapha Raji (pictured) being crowned new head of the LFA.
Ahmad again questions Cameroon’s credentials for 2019 AFCON hosting
September 5 – CAF president Ahmad Ahmad (pictured) has once more casts doubts over Cameroon’s hosting of the 2019 African Cup of Nations, suggesting again that the tournament may still be moved.
FIFA sends in ‘normalisation’ team to run Ghana FA
August 31 – Ghana is the latest country to see its football affairs come under the temporary control of FIFA after world football’s governing body set up one of its trademark normalisation committees in the wake of ongoing crisis.
Crisis hit Ghana now set to lose hosting of 2018 African Women Cup of Nations
August 28 – With its football administration still in crisis, local media have reported Ghana has been stripped of the right to host this year’s African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). But CAF insists the media has jumped the gun and that no firm decision has yet been reached.
CAF contenders undergo integrity checks in race for FIFA Council seat
August 28 -The six candidates for the vacant African seat on the FIFA Council will undergo integrity checks by FIFA before their participation in next month’s poll is confirmed according to the BBC.
Weah gives Wenger Liberia’s highest award…for making him a good player
August 24 – Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger received a hero’s welcome when he arrived in Liberia to receive the country’s highest award from president George Weah – though not everyone apparently joined in quite so enthusiastically.
FIFA wins battle with Nigerian government and Pinnick re-takes NFF headquarters
By Andrew Warshaw
August 21 – Nigeria has narrowly avoided being thrown out of international football after agreeing to recognise the FIFA-approved head of its federation.
Ghana crisis: FIFA and government agree normalisation committee to run GFA
August 17 – Authorities in Ghana finally appear to have backed down in their determination to snub a FIFA directive ordering them to stop interfering in football or risk a global ban.
Ghana politicos tell FIFA that GFA’s deep-rooted corruption make dissolution only option
By Andrew Warshaw
August 16 – Ghana’s authorities appear to be digging in their heels over FIFA’s ultimatum to get their house in order by August 27 or be thrown of international football.
Six years on from the Port Said massacre, fans could be let back into stadia
August 15 – Egypt’s sports minister Doctor Ashraf Sobhy has announced that fans will be allowed back into stadia to watch league matches on a regular basis for the first time since 2012.
FIFA issues Aug 27 deadline to Ghana and Nigeria to end political influence or face ban
By Andrew Warshaw
August 15 – Nigeria and Ghana, whose respective federations have been gridlocked for several weeks, have been warned by FIFA to halt “undue influence” in their affairs by outside authorities or risk being thrown out of international football.
No Plan B: Mixed messages as Ahmad now says AFCON 2019 will be in Cameroon
August 13 – After months of conjecture, African football chief Ahmad Ahmad appears to have put an end to speculation that Cameroon could be stripped of hosting rights for the 2019 African Cup of Nations, the latest about-turn in a seemingly never ending saga that needs to be resolved once and for all soon.
Former Zambian FA boss Bwalya denies money links to Bin Hammam as FIFA issues ban
August 13 – FIFA has banned Zambia’s former federation chief Kalusha Bwalya for two years following an investigation into his links with disgraced ex-Asian football boss Mohammed Bin Hammam and fined him CHF100,000.