Cameroon mourns loss of another player
August 24 – Twelve years after the tragic death of Marc-Vivien Foe at the 2003 Confederations Cup, another Cameroon footballer has lost his life after collapsing.
Africa
Somali minister backs FA and pledges to return national stadium from military
By Paul Nicholson
August 18 – On an inspection visit of the construction of football facilities at the Somali University Stadium in Mogadishu, Somali minister for youth and sport, Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan (pictured centre), praised the growth of football and the importance of the development projects in the country.
Bility failure to win CAF backing renews Sexwale rumours
By Andrew Warshaw
August 7 – The early race to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president has taken a potentially significant twist with the African Football Confederation (AFC) refusing to endorse the candidacy of Liberia’s Musa Bility (pictured) who says he wants to stand along with UEFA boss Michel Platini.
Sacked Keshi hits Nigerian FA with $4m lawsuit
By Mark Baber
July 27 – Former Nigerian national team coach, Stephen Keshi, who was sacked by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) after his name came up in a list of applicants for the vacant Ivory Coast coaching job, is suing the NFF for more than $4 million in compensation, according to local reports.
Nigeria sacks Keshi as NFF await their fate
By Mark Baber
July 6 – The current NFF leadership finally terminated Stephen Keshi’s (pictured) contract as national team coach, following their probe into how his name came up in a list of prospects to coach the Ivory Coast.
Kenyan chaos as power struggle causes AGM to be abandoned
By Mark Baber
June 30 – The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday was aborted by controversial FKF President Sam Nyamweya (pictured), allegedly on the grounds of insecurity and too many people turning up to the venue.
Nigerian Federation turns on Keshi, Enyeama and women’s team
By Mark Baber
June 24 – The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has had a busy week, criticising national teams for their lack of success, holding manager Steven Keshi to account for allegedly making a job application to another team and attempting to haul record-breaker Vincent Enyeama up on charges he brought Nigeria into disrepute.
SA’s £10m to Warner and Blazer refuses to leave spotlight
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – South Africa’s 2010 World Cup boss Danny Jordaan (pictured) is back in the firing line over the infamous $10 million which United States prosecutors allege was a bribe to secure the country the showpiece tournament and which South Africa’s government counters was a perfectly above board World Cup legacy payment.
Kenya: Nyamweya battling corruption allegations and sponsor pull out
By Mark Baber
June 4 – The worldwide focus on football corruption, and especially the nexus between sports marketing companies and corrupt football federation officials, has created an atmosphere in which Kenya Football Federation (FKF) president Sam Nyamweya’s position looks increasingly precarious.
Kenya: leaks, sponsor problems and grassroots rebellion
By Mark Baber
May 29 – As Sam Nyamweya, whose survival as head of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is something of a miracle, prepares to vote in the FIFA Presidential election, he faces growing problems at home where letters to and from commercial rights agency MP & Silva are being published in the local press and a mounting campaign to put an end to his controversial reign appears to be gathering steam.
Ebola-free Liberia to host international football again
By Mark Baber
May 26 – Liberia have been given the go ahead by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to play international matches on home soil following the 9 May declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the country is officially “Ebola Free.”
Egyptian Court outlaws Ultra fan groups branding them ‘terrorists’
By Mark Baber
May 18 – Cairo’s Court of Urgent Matters on Saturday reportedly declared football supporter’s “ultra” groups to be “terrorists” and banned them, in a ruling which came at the behest of Mourtada Mansour, chairman of the Zamalek club.
Kenya: MP&Silva drop FKF Premier League cash funding
By Mark Baber
May 15 – MP&Silva will reportedly not be stumping up more cash for the Kenyan Football Federation’s (FKF) attempt to set up a new Premier League in its own name, in a week in which the Kenya Premier League (KPL) moved to lay down the basic rules for player participation in the Kenyan national team games.
Egyptian footballing legend has assets seized over ‘terrorist’ link
By Mark Baber
May 13 – Recently retired Egyptian soccer legend Abu Treika [Aboutrika] has seen his appeal for the return of his assets, seized over alleged links to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, turned down.
Third time ‘lucky’ – Nigeria finally reappoint Stephen Keshi
By Mark Baber
April 24 – The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has finally reappointed Stephen Keshi as manager of the national team for the third time, bowing to the wishes of Nigeria’s out-going President Goodluck Jonathan, in a ceremony at which NFF President Amaju Pinnick was conspicuous by his absence.