Governing Bodies
2023 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SET TO GO ‘DOWN UNDER’ AS SOUTH AFRICA WITHDRAWS
As the formal bid for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup closes this Friday, South Africa has sensationally withdrawn from the race, opening the way for Australia and New Zealand who have now merged their bids into one.
With that, the competition is set to go ‘Down Under’, a colloquialism that refers to Australia and New Zealand.
It comes from the fact that these two countries are located in the Southern Hemisphere, ‘below’ many other countries on the globe.
South Africa’s withdrawal came less than 24 hours to the deadline for submitting bid books.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) claimed it wants to focus on improving the women’s game, particularly the fledgling national league, before bidding for another international tournament,
But SAFA has been in dispute recently with South Africa’s Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa, whose support they would need to secure Government guarantees.
South Africa as a country is also facing economic problems.
“We resolved that as an Association we should not proceed with the bid,” SAFA acting chief executive Hay Mokoena told Reuters.
“We want to strengthen our women’s national league first before we invite the world to come and play.
“Definitely, we will consider doing 2027 and we think, by that time, we will have a stronger women’s league and a much stronger women’s national team.”
Australia and New Zealand, meanwhile, have decided to join forces in their bid to host the 2023 women’s tournament after reaching an 11th-hour agreement before tomorrow’s deadline.
The joint bid is proposing to host the final of the quadrennial international women’s tournament in Sydney, at the newly renovated 75,000 capacity ANZ Stadium in the Olympic Park.
The Football Federation Association had recently abandoned plans to submit a standalone bid for the competition as it believes, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, that the best chance to beat the bids from Japan and Colombia was to join forces with its neighbour New Zealand.
FIFA’s decision to expand the tournament from 24 to 32 teams was apparently not a factor, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Japan Football Association (JFA) has also confirmed they have submitted their bid.
“We don’t want to one-up other bids, and we don’t want to compare ourselves to other bids,” JFA President Kozo Tashima told the Japan Times.
“We’ve submitted a bid that contains the best tournament Japan can run.
“Between next year’s Olympics, the professionalisation of the women’s league from 2021 and this Women’s World Cup, we want to give a significant boost to women’s soccer and that is why this bid is so important.
“With Japan’s proven ability to host international tournaments and our spirit of omotenashi (hospitality), we want to put on a Women’s World Cup that will bring joy not only to participating nations, but to us as hosts.”
Japan’s bid features eight stadiums, including the recently completed National Stadium and seven football-specific venues.
Those sites include the new Kyoto Stadium, which will serve as the home of the J. League’s Kyoto Sanga from 2020, and Rugby World Cup hosts Sapporo Dome, Toyota Stadium and Kobe Misaki Stadium.
Saitama Stadium, another Tokyo Olympic venue, as well as Sendai Stadium and Suita Stadium also made the list.
“FIFA requested a tournament with eight venues, and adding one more would increase costs significantly,” Tashima said.
“We’re a small country and can take advantage of our transit system, including the bullet train and air routes.
“With eight stadiums we can run a smooth tournament and keep our costs down.”
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and possibly South Korea – maybe in a joint bid with North Korea – are the other interested parties, with the successful candidate due to be announced in May.
Governing Bodies
CAF President to Address Kenya 2027 AFCON Concerns, Senegal Trophy Row, Future Hosts and New Secretary General
By Kunle Solaja
The President of the Confederation of African Football is set for a potentially far-reaching press conference on Sunday evening, with four key issues expected to dominate discussions and shape the immediate future of African football.
At the top of the agenda will be the announcement of Nigeria’s Samson Adamu as the acting general secretary of CAF. He will thus be the highest-ranking Nigerian football official.
The next may be the growing concerns over Kenya’s readiness to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, the controversy surrounding Senegal’s continued public display of the AFCON trophy, and the anticipated announcement of hosts for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the tournament.
The briefing is widely viewed as a critical moment for CAF’s leadership, coming at a time when governance, credibility and long-term planning are under intense scrutiny.
Particular attention is expected to be paid to Kenya, one of the three co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON alongside Uganda and Tanzania. CAF is believed to have raised red flags over the pace of infrastructure development in the country, especially regarding stadium upgrades, training facilities and transport networks.
Recent inspection findings have reportedly pointed to gaps that could jeopardise project timelines if not urgently addressed. CAF may, therefore, outline stricter compliance benchmarks or timelines for Kenya to meet, with the possibility of sanctions or redistribution of hosting rights within the East African bloc if progress remains unsatisfactory.
The CAF President is likely to reaffirm the body’s commitment to delivering a world-class tournament while emphasising that hosting comes with non-negotiable standards.
Another sensitive issue expected to feature prominently is the situation involving Senegal, whose national team has continued to parade the AFCON trophy despite reports that they have been stripped of the title.
The development has sparked debate across the continent, raising questions about adherence to CAF’s disciplinary processes and the authority of its decisions. Observers say the episode risks setting an uneasy precedent if not decisively handled.
CAF is expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported withdrawal of Senegal’s title, as well as outline any disciplinary or corrective measures deemed necessary.
Beyond the immediate controversies, attention will also turn to the future as CAF is expected to announce host nations for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Such decisions are typically strategic, reflecting CAF’s broader vision of expanding football development across different regions of the continent. Sunday’s announcement could, therefore, reshape the geographical rotation and long-term planning of Africa’s flagship competition.
In addition, the CAF President is anticipated to unveil Samson Adamu as the acting General Secretary, marking a key administrative transition within the organisation. The role is central to CAF’s day-to-day operations and policy implementation, making the appointment a significant indicator of the leadership’s direction in the coming years.
Sunday’s press conference is shaping up as more than a routine engagement with the media. It represents a defining moment for CAF as it seeks to assert authority, address contentious issues and chart a clear path forward.
Stakeholders across African football will be watching closely for firm decisions and clear messaging that could influence not only the organisation of upcoming tournaments but also the credibility and governance standards of the game on the continent.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nigeria has recorded another major milestone in continental football administration with the appointment of Samson Adamu as Acting General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football.
Sports Village Square reports that Adamu, whose father, Dr Amos Adamu, was also a seasoned football administrator, has become the eighth person to hold the seat at the confederation, which clocked 69 on February 8 last year.
Top sources within CAF confirmed on Sunday that Adamu’s appointment takes immediate effect following the exit of Véron Mosengo-Omba, who stepped down from the position after mounting pressure and internal transition discussions.
Mosengo-Omba, a Congolese lawyer, had been appointed in March 2021, succeeding Abdelmounaim Bah, and brought with him experience from FIFA, where he served as Chief Member Associations Officer.
Adamu’s elevation is widely seen as a recognition of his growing influence and performance within CAF since joining the organisation in 2018 as Director of Competitions.
In that role, he replaced Mosengo-Omba and quickly established himself as a key figure in the organisation of major continental tournaments.
For Nigeria, his appointment represents a significant boost in representation at the highest administrative level of African football, reinforcing the country’s longstanding contribution to the development of the game on the continent.
Before his move to CAF, Adamu had built a strong reputation as an innovator in sports management, notably as the initiator and Chief Executive Officer of the internationally acclaimed Copa Lagos Futsal tournament, which attracted global attention and participation.
Since arriving at CAF, he has earned commendation for his efficiency and visibility, playing central roles in competition management and strategic coordination. His consistent performance reportedly made him a natural choice when discussions began over a replacement for Mosengo-Omba.
Although his current role is in an acting capacity, observers believe Adamu’s appointment could pave the way for a substantive position, depending on ongoing administrative decisions within CAF.
His emergence underscores Nigeria’s continued relevance not only on the pitch but also in the corridors of power in African football governance.
Past and Recent General Secretaries of CAF (in reverse chronological order):
- Samson Adamu (Nigeria): Appointed Acting General Secretary on March 29, 2026.
- Véron Mosengo-Omba (DR Congo/Switzerland): Served from March 2021 to March 2026.
- Abdelmounaim Bah (Morocco): Served as Acting General Secretary from March 2020 to March 2021.
- Mouad Hajji (Morocco): Served April 2019 to March 2020.
- Amr Fahmy (Egypt): Served from 2017 to 2019.
- Hicham El Amrani (Morocco): Served from 2010 to 2017.
- Mustapha Fahmy (Egypt): Served for nearly 30 years (starting in 1961).
- Youssef Mohamad (Sudan): Served as the first General Secretary upon CAF’s foundation in 1957.
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Governing Bodies
FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Congo officials over financial misconduct
FIFA’s ethics committee launched disciplinary proceedings against three senior Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) officials on Wednesday, including president Jean-Guy Mayolas, over allegations of financial misconduct.
Mayolas, his wife and his son were sentenced to life in prison earlier this month after a criminal court in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville, convicted them of embezzling $1.1 million in FIFA funds. Media reports said their whereabouts were not known , and they were tried in absentia.
FECOFOOT general secretary Wantete Badji and treasurer Raoul Kanda are also subject to the disciplinary proceedings, FIFA said. Badji and Kanda were sentenced to five years each in prison by the court in Brazzaville for related charges.
“These proceedings follow the receipt of information and documents during an audit,” FIFA said in a statement.
-Reuters
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