International Football
Egypt Drags Hayatou’s CAF To “EFCC”
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
More opposition to the re-election of Issa Hayatou as CAF President seems to have emerged as the host country to CAF Secretariat appears to have come up with a noose round the Cameroonian’s neck.
With the CAF election holding this week amidst the toughest opposition Hayatou is facing in 29 years, the Egyptian government are planning charges against the Hayatou-led executive board at the Egyptian Economic Court, Nigeria’s equivalent of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Already, CAF is crying foul over what it referred to as unsubstantiated charges and allegations, especially coming in the days leading to the CAF elections.
In a lengthy 716-word statement issued by CAF and made available to Sports Village Square, the confederation dismissed the charges and allegations presented by the Egyptian Competition Authority which, led to the Public Prosecutor for Financial and Commercial Affairs referring CAF, its President and Secretary General to the Egyptian Economic Court.
According to the statement from CAF, the genesis of the allegation was the renewal of the appointment of Lagardère Sports as marketing and media agency for Africa up to 2028.
CAF statements said the body acted following an extensive period of negotiations.
“A legally binding agreement was signed by the parties in June 2015 and was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee.
“In commercial terms, the deal represented an enormous increase in the revenues guaranteed to CAF for its marketing and media rights, which secures significant and guaranteed funds for the benefit of African football over the next 12 years.
“Further, with an unrivalled track record in delivering African football for over 22 years, Lagardère Sports is also an agency that can deliver and execute CAF’s vast programme of events – including the Africa Cup of Nations, the African Nations Championship and the African Champions League.”
The deal is reportedly to be $1 billion. But Egypt in January accused CAF of failing to open up the tender to free and fair competition as required under Egyptian law.
It was however speculated that the exclusion of new Egyptian marketing firm, Presentation Advertising Agency which submitted a superior offer could be the reason for the Egyptian government’s action.
But CAF countered this, stating that the Egyptian company’s offer was not only belated, it was also “to acquire outright the marketing and media rights held by CAF, which were never for sale and the very holding of such agency rights”. CAF asserted that it would be in violation of the Egyptian company’s own articles of association.
CAF in its statement claims that the timing of the Egyptian Competition Authority’s media campaign also underlines organisation’s attempt to disrupt and undermine CAF at the time of its presidential elections.
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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