International Football
CAF Expands Exco; Prunes Committees
The CAF Congress on Friday in Rabat, Morocco put a seal on a number of changes proposed at a two – day symposium on African Football and which the Executive Committee approved on Thursday.
The symposium that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday at the International Conference Centre in Skhirat, outside Rabat crystallized a plethora of ideas for the African game going forward, including a 24 –nation Africa Cup of Nations finals, expansion of the youth competitions from the current eight –team finals, moving the AFCON to June/July and a more inclusive CAF alive to, and abreast with, the dictates of new realities.
On Friday, at the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly at the Hotel Sofitel and Resorts in Rabat, CAF President, Ahmad called on the African football family to unite and approach the future with determination and conviction, and to afford CAF full support in “this vast project of change.”
He also indicated that the new administration would always insist on global best practice in service, attitude and application, and in evaluating the preparedness of host nations for CAF championships.
CAF 1st Vice President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, who is Chairman of the Statutes Amendment Committee, rolled out the amendments to the Statutes, which was the major business of the day, while revealing that the Executive Committee approved the introduction of a third vice president, the expansion of the Executive Committee from 16 to 23 members, the abolition of the practice of persons wearing multiple hats and the reduction in the number of standing committees from 20 to 11.
“Henceforth, the CAF Executive Committee will comprise of a President, 13 members, one woman, the six members of the FIFA Council (apart from the CAF President) and two co-opted members.
The co-opted members, at the pleasure of the President, will also enjoy the same rights (including voting right) as the elected members, just as the FIFA Council members.
“Persons can decide to either be in the FIFA Council or the CAF Executive Committee, but cannot be in both, except for the CAF President who is automatically a FIFA Vice President. The FIFA Council will be decided this way: two from the Francophone bloc, two from the Anglophone bloc, two from the Portuguese/Arabic/Spanish bloc and 1 woman, who can come from any of the blocs. However, the bloc that produces the CAF President can only produce one more person.”
Nyantakyi also declared that the eligibility checks would now be extended to persons vying for CAF Executive Committee membership, and not only those vying for the FIFA Council.
The position of CAF’s head of administration will now be known as General Secretary, instead of Secretary General. The standing committees have now been pruned to 11.
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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