Nigerian ‘goal-fest’ teams suspended indefinitely by FA
By Andrew Warshaw
July 10 – Nigerian football authorities have suspended four teams involved in “mind-boggling” playoff results, describing the 79-0 and 67-0 scorelines as “scandalous”.
Africa
Electronic tickets key to ending corruption in Tanzanian football
By Mark Baber
July 9 – Pressure is being exerted by media and politicians in Tanzania to expedite the long delayed launch of electronic ticketing in stadia to counter corruption and increase revenues.
Cameroon to appeal to CAS over FIFA suspension
By Andrew Warshaw
July 9 – Cameroon officials have hit back at being suspended by Fifa and have pledged to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Nigerian football’s finances to be strictly scrutinised
By Mark Baber
Nigerian football, never far from controversy, faces increased scrutiny after the country’s House of Representatives Committee on Sports called for a total review of the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) agreements with sponsors and the Sports Minister set up a panel to investigate the recent bonus row.
Court orders Togo to pay up
July 5 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the Togo Football Federation to pay former national team coach Jean Thissen 200 million Swiss francs ($400,000) for “abusive termination of contract”. The Belgian was appointed in 2008 and but was ousted in October the following year and went to the CAS citing breach of contract and reportedly claiming $800,000. Togolese officials claimed he had health issues and was no longer capable to work.
Cameroon football enveloped in turmoil after FIFA ban
By Andrew Warshaw
July 5 – Cameroon’s hopes of competing at next year’s World Cup finals have been dealt a potentially damaging blow after the country’s national federation, FECAFOOT, was suspended by FIFA in the latest case of football’s world governing body clamping down on government interference, an issue that shows no sign of abating, especially in Africa.
Cameroon face suspension as government steps into vote row over Iya Mohammed
By Mark Baber
July 1 – The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) is in chaos and faces potential suspension from FIFA following the annulling by a judicial authority of Iya Mohammed’s overwhelming re-election as President.
Aspire brings in Messi to combat malaria in Africa
By Andrew Warshaw
June 25 – Qatar’s state-of-the-art Aspire Academy, one of the world’s most sophisticated sports facilities and constantly being promoted by the Gulf state as a key part of its 2022 World Cup programme, is showing its humanitarian face by linking up with Argentine and Barcelona icon Lionel Messi in the fight against malaria.
Egyptian violence erupts again as Al Ahli fans storm Cairo’s military stadium
By Mark Baber
June 24 – Al Ahli fans stormed Cairo’s military stadium this weekend against the backdrop of demonstrations held by Islamists in favour of president Mohammed Morsi and in a possible foretaste of anti-Morsi demonstrations planned for June 30 , the first anniversary of Morsi’s inauguration, which aim to force new elections.
Cameroon FA president Iya re-elected as he is transferred to prison
By Mark Baber
June 21 – On Wednesday, Mohammed Iya, was re-elected as president of the Cameroon Football Federation by a landslide, on the same day he was transferred to the notorious Kondengui central prison in Yaounde, after appearing before a Special Criminal Court on charges of misappropriation of public funds.
Ethiopia and Togo points deductions ever closer over player ineligibility gaffe
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – Ethiopia look resigned to having their hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup jeopardised after admitting fielding an ineligible player in a recent qualifier.
Resentment still lingers over Nigerian payments dispute
By Andrew Warshaw
June 17 – A dispute over player bonuses that threatened Nigeria’s participation in the Confederations Cup still appears to be festering, with claims and counter-claims from players and officials.
Nigeria head to Confederations Cup after payments row diffused
By Andrew Warshaw
June 14 – A row over bonus payments that threatened to halt Nigeria’s participation in the Confederations Cup has been diffused at the 11th hour – with the squad en route to Brazil albeit 24 hours later than scheduled.
CVMóvel renews Cape Verde deal and dives deeper with the Blue Sharks
June 13 – CVMóvel, a subsidiary of Portugal Telecom in Cape Verde and the Cape Verde Football Federation have renewed their sponsorship partnership for a further three years, whilst launching the CVMóvel Blue Sharks, aimed at training a new generation of Cape Verde players.
Lagos football film festival opens with ‘slave ship’ story
By Paul Nicholson
June 12 – The first African Football Film Festival (AFFF) opens tomorrow in Lagos, Nigeria. Starting small, the first edition of the festival will be over three days and will screen five films. The organisers, non-government organisation (NGO) PLAY!YA have set up a cinema in Gowon Estate in Lagos, one of the more neglected districts in the Nigerian capital Lagos.