Somalia switches on to first live broadcast match
By Paul Nicholson
December 17 – Somalia makes a small but significant piece of national football history today with the first live football broadcast of a match played in the country.
Africa
Sports ministry disbands Sierra Leone FA board, but meets resistance
December 11 – Sierra Leone, which has only just returned to organised football activity having been declared ebola-free, has had its FA board dissolved by the National Sports Council (NSC), though the Sierra Leone FA (SLFA) is refusing to acknowledge the ruling.
‘Selfie King’ Chiyangwa wins Zimbabwe FA presidency
By Mark Baber
December 8 – Bentley-driving, self-proclaimed ‘selfie-King’, multi-millionaire businessman Phillip Chiyangwa has been elected as the new President of the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) after a campaign in which he promised to solve the body’s financial woes.
President of Mauritania steps in to bring boring match to early end with penalty shoot-out
By Mark Baber
December 2 – When it comes to a boring football match, most fans have little option but to grin and bear it. Not so with Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of Mauritania, who in the 63rd minute of the Supercup match between FC Tevragh-Zeina and ACS Ksar, decided enough was enough and brought the action to an end – ordering the referee to proceed straight to penalties.
CAF Confederation Cup kick-off brought forward after Tunis bombing
November 26 – The kick-off time of the second leg of the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup is being brought forward from 18:30 GMT to 14:00 GMT in response to Tunisia’s 30-day curfew, announced in the wake of the bombing of a bus carrying presidential guards last Tuesday.
CECAFA elect new President as FIFA candidates campaign for votes
By Mark Baber
November 23 – The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations [CECAFA] has elected President of Sudan Football Association, Dr. Mutasim Gafaar as head of the body, on the eve of the start of the 2015 CECAFA Challenge Cup.
Ebola-free Sierra Leone prepares return to international football
November 10 – The World Health Organisation’s declaration that Sierra Leone is now officially free of ebola will have an immediate positive effect on the country’s football programme.
Kenyan football falls into anarchy over KPL membership and FKF elections
By Mark Baber
October 28 – Ahead of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections, Kenyan football has descended further into chaos as FKF President Sam Nyamweya (pictured) and the current FKF leadership try to push through their plan to expand the Kenya Premier League (KPL), whilst the South Coast of the FKF has vowed to hold the elections on Thursday, saying the mandate of existing office-holders runs out on that day.
SAFA’s Kika gets 6-year ban for fixing 2010 World Cup friendlies
By Andrew Warshaw
October 14 – FIFA’s ethics committee has thrown out yet another corrupt official with South Africa’s Lindile Kika banned for six years as part of the match-fixing investigation involving friendly games ahead of the 2010 World Cup that sent shockwaves through the country.
Police kill two in Somaliland as they fire into crowd after pitch invasion
By Mark Baber
October 13 – A regional football match between Awdal and Marodi Jeh at Haji Dahir stadium in Borama, Somaliland, quickly descended into violence on Sunday as a dispute over a penalty decision led to a small-scale crowd invasion and police responded with automatic weapons fire, reportedly killing one and injuring others, one of whom died of his wounds.
Russia 2018: Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya live to fight another day
By Mark Baber
October 12 – Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, three of Africa’s most populous nations which have been underperforming on the international football stage, unconvincingly made it through to the second round of qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2018 following their 1st round 2nd leg matches this weekend.
Kenyan farce escalates as FKF denies corruption ahead of elections
By Mark Baber
September 30 – With Football Kenya Federation elections looming, football in Kenya continues to be overshadowed by the claims of intrigue, corruption and manipulation. Notwithstanding the commercial and administrative mess and infighting he has created within Kenyan football, President Sam Nyamweya (pictured) hangs on and remains in the race for another four year term, whilst FIFA’s role, especially the apparent lack of action of its Ethics Committee, appears increasingly indefensible.
Sholei is back and campaigning for Kenyan presidency on a reform platform
By Mark Baber
September 24 – With the format of the Football Kenya Federation elections having been set, Sammy Sholei (pictured), who just last month had has six-year suspension from football annulled, has announced his candidature for the post of President.
Jordaan and Oliphant face demands for criminal prosecution in South Africa
By Paul Nicholson
September 21 – South African FA president Danny Jordaan (pictured) and former SAFA president Molefi Oliphant face increased likelihood of criminal prosecution in South Africa following the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party’s laying of criminal charges against them concerning the $10 million that was sent to CONCACAF.
NFF scuppers Nigerian FIFA presidential hopefuls with tough bid ‘conditions’
By Mark Baber
September 21 – With at least two Nigerians considering standing for the post of FIFA President, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick (pictured), has reiterated that anyone from Nigeria wishing to stand must meet the conditions laid out by the NFF Executive Committee.