Sierra Leone’s Alimu Bah loses appeal against corruption conviction
By Mark Baber
May 14 – The Court of Appeal of Sierra Leone has upheld the conviction of Alimu Bah, former Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).
Africa
Crowd stampede kills 15 in Congo title decider
By Andrew Warshaw
May 12 – African football has been rocked by disaster when at least 15 people were killed and more than 20 injured in a stampede at a match in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital of Kinshasa. The tragedy reportedly occurred after police fired tear gas, provoking a stampede during the playoff match between ASV Club and the Tout Puissant Mazembe on Sunday evening.
Gambia hit with two-year ban for playing over-age players
By Andrew Warshaw
May 5 – The Gambia, one of Africa’s smallest countries, has been banned from all international competition for two years for fielding no fewer than five over-age players in a qualifier for the Continent’s under-20 Championship.
Lekjaa takes the reins in Morocco after election re-run
By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – The Moroccan Royal Football Federation (FRMF) has a new president. Skhirate-Fouzi Lakjaa (pictured second left), the only candidate standing, was elected on Sunday for a four-year term.
Nigeria prepare for Brazil 2014 and start by paying Keshi and his team
By Paul Nicholson
April 9 – The almost-traditional and recurring Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) financial crisis that occurs every major international championship when it comes to paying officials and players, may have been resolved, at least in part, in advance of the Brazil World Cup.
Eritrea pull out of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
March 31 – Eritrea have pulled out of the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco for no apparent reason. They had been due to face South Sudan in the first round of the preliminary phase over two legs in April.
Hayatou says its time for an African nation to crash the 2014 party
By Andrew Warshaw
March 17 – African football chief Issa Hayatou says it’s time the Continent provided at least one World Cup semifinalist.
Egypt’s Ultras call for police to be removed from security at stadia
By Paul Nicholson
March 13 – Egypt’s turbulent political situation has become inextricably linked to club football in the country and the political activities of the fans who have been leaders and activists in the revolution and the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak and the President Mohammed Morsi. Now a joint Ultras statement is calling for removal of the police from all football stadia.
Ghana police investigate death of assistant referee attacked by fans
March 12 – Police in Ghana have launched an investigation into the death of an assistant referee who was apparently attacked by spectators after a second division game.
Player bonuses threatened as Nigerian FA appeals asks for more World Cup cash
By Paul Nicholson
March 12 – Nigeria’s seemingly endless struggle and debate over how much and when to pay win bonuses to its national team players and officials has begun for the World Cup already. But while there is a will to pay, there may not be a way with the current budget for the 2014 tournament to be granted by the government expected to come in at only half the requested amount by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Ghana bank rolls out $10m sponsorship, but one player will certainly miss out
February 28 – The Ghana Premier League, which has signed Ghana’s First Capital Plus Bank as its headline sponsor, is rolling out a number of marketing initiatives to support the partnership. The bank will pay $10 million in five year deal, easily a record sponsorship for the league.
CAF awards CHAN to Kenya and sets qualifying path for Morocco 2015
By Paul Nicholson
February 25 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Kenya the rights to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan), Rwanda will host 2016. CAF has also outlined details of the Morocco 2015 Orange Cup of Nations (CAN).
South Africa’s Nedbank Cup announces R20m prize money
February 25 – South Africa’s premier club knockout cup, The Nedbank Cup, has announced prize money of R7 million ($647,000) for the winner of this year’s competition, an increase of R1 million ($92,000) from last year. Total prize money for the competition is R20 million ($1.85 million).
Kenyan police hunt murderer after Liverpool fan stabbed to death
February 11 – Police in Kenya are hunting a murder suspect after a Liverpool supporter was stabbed to death by a rival Arsenal fan following last weekend’s 5-1 Premier League win by the Merseyside club.
Re-trial ordered for 21 Egyptian fans given death sentence over Port Said riot
February 7 – Egypt’s Court of Cassation has ordered a re-trial of 21 people sentenced to death in connection with the infamous February, 2012, Port Said riot in which more than 70 spectators died, causing two successive league seasons to be called off and plunging the sport into chaos.