Camara left with no election to fight and a free run to FIFA’s top table
March 8 – Danny Jordaan’s loss has suddenly become Almamy Kabele Camara’s gain ahead of the most feverish African regional elections in decades.
Africa
CAF elections in disarray as Jordaan pulls out of FIFA Council race
By Andrew Warshaw
March 7 – Danny Jordaan (pictured), the public face of the 2010 South Africa World Cup, has dramatically pulled out of the race to gain a place on FIFA’s ruling Council, plunging this month’s African regional elections into chaos and confusion.
West Africans declare for Hayatou, or at least some do
March 7 – The alignment and re-alignment of African federations behind either incumbent president Issa Hayatou or challenger Ahmad Ahmad in the election for president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is a seemingly ever-changing landscape of contradictions.
Ahmad wins Djibouti support in battle to take over from Hayatou
By Andrew Warshaw
March 6 – Djibouti is the latest country to come out publicly and say it is supporting the challenger Ahmad Ahmad (pictured) in the forthcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential election in a move that appears to go against the official stance of the Council for East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) whose members are officially backing Issa Hayatou.
Bwalya pulls out of FIFA Council race to focus on CAF exco bid
March 6 – Former Zambian FA president Kalusha Bwalya has withdrawn from the race for a place on the FIFA Council – less than two weeks before elections for African representatives.
Johansen says no decision made on CAF presidency as she focuses on her own election
March 3 – The sensitivity within individual federations over this month’s Confederation of African Football presidency has been further underlined with Sierra Leone Football Association President Isha Johansen ordering an immediate enquiry into media reports credited to her Director of Competitions Sorey Ibrahim Sesay that she would not be voting for Madagascan challenger Ahmad Ahmad.
Exclusive: Call for forensic audit of Liberian FA accounts exposes Infantino ally Bility
By Paul Nicholson
March 1 – Controversial Liberian FA president Musa Bility (pictured), excluded from the FIFA presidential race after failing integrity tests, is being accused by a former Liberian FA executive committee member of misappropriating FIFA financial assistance money of more than $1 million. Amongst a raft of claims of financial embezzlement, he is also accused of taking $50,000 of Ebola relief money sent to the Liberian FA and sharing it between committee members.
CECAFA get behind Hayatou for another term as CAF president
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – The regional factions lining up behind the two rival camps in this month’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential election are taking shape with the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) endorsing Issa Hayatou for an unprecedented eighth term of office.
Comoros splits solidarity of COSAFA support for Ahmad for CAF presidency
By David Owen
February 27 – Doubts are emerging as to whether Ahmad Ahmad, the challenger in next month’s crunch Confederation of African Football (CAF) Presidential election, will secure blanket support from members of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA).
Infantino parties on but denies African influence, as Pinnick’s Nigerian support questioned
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – The race for the presidency of African football is turning ugly with Nigerian football federation boss Amaju Pinnick criticised by one of his own people for revealing he will vote for the sole challenger to Issa Hayatou next month.
Infantino gets his man? Chiyangwa lines up African votes against Hayatou
February 24 – Zimbabwe FA president Philip Chiyangwa (pictured), head of the COSAFA region of 14 states, is rapidly emerging as the kingmaker in next month’s ballot for Confederation of African Football president.
Africa pushes for 10 slots in the 48-team World Cup expansion
February 23 – The regional fight for more slots in an expanded World Cup from 2026 is already under way with Africa stating it is looking for 10 places, double its current quota.
A new future for Africa? Hayatou challenger Ahmad focuses on the money
February 21 – Issa Hayatou’s rival in next month’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential election says he intends to totally overhaul the Continent’s financial transparency as he bids to bring to an end to the long autocratic reign of Issa Hayatou.
Hayatou gets South African welcome as Infantino joins Ahmad’s birthday bash
By Andrew Warshaw
February 20 – The tension ahead of next month’s potentially game-changing Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential election is mounting after South African president Jacob Zuma was reported – apparently wrongly – to have formally given his government’s backing to Issa Hayatou despite the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) executive committee officially endorsing Hayatou’s rival, Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad (sic).
Ahmad’s CAF campaign for change gathers speed as Nigeria desert Hayatou
By Andrew Warshaw
February 16 – Issa Hayatou’s quest to hang on to power at the helm of African football has taken another jolt with the news that the highly influential Nigerian FA is backing his rival for the leadership.