Has FIFA’s gamble on Johansen paid off? Sierra Leone stakeholders show outward unity
March 27 – A fragile peace appears to have broken out within Sierra Leone football following an extraordinary congress in the capital Freetown.
Africa
CAF’s ‘new broom’ leadership already under integrity scrutiny
By Andrew Warshaw
March 20 – African football’s new leadership faces immediate and important questions about transparency and double standards after electing an official who was banned from running for FIFA president on to its own ruling body.
Egyptians smell blood and the CAF rights, saying Hayatou case will not be dropped
By Paul Nicholson
March 20 – The Egyptian prosecution of former Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou over the award of CAF’s media and commercial rights to Lagardère Sports will continue, promised a legal spokesperson for Presentation Sports. This is despite Hayatou having lost the presidency of CAF to Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad last Thursday.
Mali will not be bullied by FIFA, says minister, as ban hits clubs in CAF comps
March 20 – Mali has hit back at becoming the latest African country to be suspended by FIFA over government inference saying it will not be pushed around and will continue to operate as it sees fit.
Have old ways brought a new dawn? Ahmad and CAF wake up to new roles
By Andrew Warshaw
March 17 – When Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad paid tribute to his predecessor Issa Hayatou and spoke of a new dawn for African football after clinching the most seismic of election victories, it brought to mind another one-sided presidential ballot.
Controversial Jordaan wins exco vote on CAF’s big day of change
March 17 – On the day Ahmad Ahmad became African football’s new leader, a raft of his supporters won places on the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee, notably South Africa’s Danny Jordaan, the public face of the 2010 World Cup.
CAF elections over, FIFA jumps in to ban Mali from world game
March 17 – Just 24 hours after Africa’s regional congress voted in Ahmad Ahmad as its new leader, one of those countries who voted, Mali, has been kicked out of FIFA with immediate effect due to government interference in its national FA.
Ahmad ends Hayatou’s reign at CAF with landslide victory
By Andrew Warshaw
March 16 – The 29-year reign of Issa Hayatou as head of African football came to a stunning and unexpected end today when he handed over his throne to previously little-known Madagascan challenger Ahmad Ahmad.
Does the end of Hayatou also spell the end for Lagardère and its $1bn rights package?
By Paul Nicholson
March 16 – With Issa Hayatou no longer president of the Confederation of African Football and the future of CAF general secretary Hicham El Amrani uncertain under the incoming presidency, there is also a question over whether the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) and Presentation Sports will continue with their complaint against CAF over the award of a 12-year marketing rights package to Lagardère Sports for $1 billion.
CAF to double World Cup slots and keep AFCON’s January date
March 16 – Ahead of the election that ended his 28 years as Confederation of African Football president, Issa Hayatou today dismissed any possibility of changing the timing of the African Nations Cup, the Continent’s showpiece event, amid calls for it to be rescheduled to accommodate European clubs who lose their African players midway through the season.
CAF acts on trash-talking Chiyangwa with referral to disciplinary body
By Andrew Warshaw
March 15 – As African football awaits its most far-reaching election in three decades, outright war has broken out between the two rival camps with the self-styled campaign manager for the sole challenger to Issa Hayatou’s previously untouchable throne facing disciplinary action.
Pinnick pressured to put country first and personal interest second in Ahmad vs Hayatou vote
By Andrew Warshaw
March 15 – Twenty-fours before the most hotly anticipated election in African football history, Nigerian authorities have denied they have ordered their highly influential FA to vote for Issa Hayatou as he bids to cling on to power for another four-year term.
Bility admits on radio to taking the $50,000 Ebola awareness cash sent by FIFA to the LFA
By Paul Nicholson
March 14 – Liberian FA (LFA) president Musa Bility appeared to admit on Liberian radio at the weekend that in 2015 he took $50,000 from FIFA meant to go towards humanitarian aid during the Ebola crisis. The money was distributed to his own executive committee members while he retained $35,000. Bility is accused of multiple acts of corruption by a former LFA executive committee member and other stakeholders in Liberian football.
Playing legend Eto’o deserts federation giant Hayatou in CAF election jostling
By Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – You might have thought that Samuel Eto’o, as arguably Cameroon’s greatest ever footballing icon, would be backing his compatriot Issa Hayatou when African nations go to the polls on Thursday to decide whether to give Hayatou an unprecedented eighth term or go for Madagascan challenger Ahmad Ahmad.
Egypt puts its muscle behind Ahmad with its Courts getting in on the action
By Staff Writers
March 13 – The final week of the African Football Confederation (CAF)’s Presidential election campaign is off to an explosive start, with CAF obliged to rebut what it says are unsubstantiated charges and allegations that have led to Issa Hayatou being referred to the Egyptian Economic Court within days of Thursday’s vote pitting him against challenger Ahmad Ahmad.