Governing Bodies
NIGERIA AMONG EIGHT FEDERATIONS OPPOSED TO AHMAD’S CAF PRESIDENTIAL RE-ELECTION
Forty six out of 54 presidents of CAF affiliated football associations have reportedly endorsed Ahmad to seek re-election as president of the Confederation of African Football.
According to information gathered by the Sports Village Square, Nigeria along with Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Botswana, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe are the only ones, whose football federations have refused to back Ahmad, the Madagascan who goes by a single name.
Ahmad has been the CAF president since March 2017 when the ancient regime of Issa Hayatou was overthrown in Addis Ababa. His regime however has been characterized by internal chaos, leading to FIFA taking control of it in July last year and seconding its General Secretary, Fatma Samoura to be in charge for six months.
There have been series of allegations against Ahmad ranging from corruption to sexual harassment. He has also been a subject to an investigation by FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
With barely a month to the close of picking nomination form, Ahmad has yet to confirm interest in seeking re-election. Surprisingly, Tunisia which federation is among the 46 to have endorsed the candidacy of Ahmad has two candidates who have shown interest in becoming CAF president.
One of them is FIFA Council member, Tarek Bouchamaoui. The other is Waddie Jary, the president of the Tunisian Football Federation (TFF).
CAF regulations stipulate that only one candidate can come from a country.
Surprisingly, the TFF is noted as one of the 46 federations backing Ahmad. But according to sources, the two Tunisians only signified interests, but yet to pick the forms. The closing date is 12 November.
According to BBC, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) chieftain, Amaju Pinnick ‘refused to rule himself out’ of the race, saying there were ‘a lot of things fundamentally wrong in CAF right now’.
Last week, the NFF board “unanimously approved and endorsed. Amaju Melvin Pinnick to vie for any elective position in the forthcoming CAF and FIFA elections as deemed appropriate.”
But as at this Sunday, neither he nor any candidate has picked nomination form.
Ahmad, according to BBC, has previously said he would seek guidance from the continent’s football fraternity before deciding to run, saying he does the role out of ‘collective motivation’ not ‘personal ambition’.
The statement of the 46 out of 54 heads of the FAs reads:
“Today, we, Presidents of the six Councils of African Football Associations, supported by 46 presidents of our 54 member associations, call on President Ahmad to run for a second term in order to continue with his achievement,” the statement read.
“If he decides to do so, we will support him.” The statement calling for Ahmad’s re-election said he had “brought new impetus to football in Africa”.
“The reforms initiated on the first day of his mandate have built a demanding institution, strong, modern, rising each day a little more to international standards,” the statement read.
“In four years, he managed to set up a new system of governance, collegial, allowing all goodwill to participate in the life of football.
“The fundamental reorganisation of the institution has made the administration more efficient.
“Transparency – particularly financial – has become a major concern, which is improving every day.
“CAF is doing better, but the situation remains fragile.
“Transformations in the institution are bearing fruit, but reforms must continue and good practices take root.
“The culture of high standards must become a habit.
“This requires time, perseverance and vigilance that only stability can bring.”
The statement insisted African football needed to a “vision” and a “modern project” in place, but felt efforts made by Ahmad were “promising”.
“President Ahmad has already spoken of his desire to make football accessible to everyone, regardless of ethnic, economic, religious or gender differences,” the statement added.
“We agree, and we welcome also the historic progress already made in women’s football materials.
“We too are convinced that our sport is a way to create links between all Africans.
“That must be a path to emancipation.
“We believe in the virtues of exemplary football, able to serve as a model for African youth.
“The work carried out on refereeing over the past four years points in this direction.”
A simple majority is required to win the CAF presidential election.
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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The World Anti-Doping Agency is considering rewriting its rules to try barring President Donald Trump and all U.S. government officials from attending the LA Olympics in 2028, in a move that could also have implications for the World Cup being hosted by the U.S. this summer.
The proposal, on the agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting of the global drug-fighting watchdog’s executive committee, is the latest manoeuvre to come out of a yearslong refusal of the U.S. government to pay its annual dues to WADA.
The refusal is part of the American government’s unanimous, bipartisan protest of the agency’s handling of a case involving Chinese swimmers and other issues.
The Associated Press learned of the agenda item through correspondence it obtained between WADA and European officials involved in the agency’s decision-making. Two others with knowledge of the agenda confirmed the existence of the rules proposal to AP; they were not authorised to speak publicly about the agenda, which has not been released publicly.
The proposal was, in fact, first brought up in 2024, when U.S. authorities successfully lobbied for its rejection. The U.S. has since lost its seat on the executive committee.
“In spite of WADA’s increasing threats, we continue to stand firm in our demand for accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sport,” said Sara Carter, the director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
The rule, if passed, would figure to be mostly symbolic, given the limits an international sports federation could have on the president of a country attending an event inside his own borders.
“I have never heard of a $50-million-budget Swiss foundation being able to enforce a rule to, for example, prevent the United States president from going anywhere,” said Carter’s predecessor at ONDCP, Rahul Gupta, who was on the WADA executive committee two years ago and led the movement to reject the proposal. “And the next question you have to ask is: How are you going to enforce it? Are they going to post a red notice from Interpol? It’s ludicrous. It’s clear they have not thought this through.”
In a news release after this story published, WADA said the AP story was “entirely misleading,” focusing on Fitzgerald’s statement to the AP that if proposals being discussed were “introduced, given that the rules would not apply retroactively, the FIFA World Cup, LA and Salt Lake City Games (in 2034) would not be covered.”
Fitzgerald’s only answer to three emails from AP seeking clarification on his initial response — specifically about how a rule that had not yet been adopted could or couldn’t be applied retroactively on events that are scheduled for the future — was: “I’m trying to say that it would not apply retroactively so those events would not be covered. Given that and the next meeting of the Board being scheduled for November, I don’t see how it could come into play for this year’s World Cup.”
-AP
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The Confederation of African Football has dismissed Yasin Osman Robleh, the Djiboutian official who headed its judicial bodies for the past six years, in a move aimed at restoring confidence in the organisation’s disciplinary processes.
According to reports from convergence sources, the decision was confirmed on Saturday by CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, bringing an abrupt end to Robleh’s tenure overseeing the confederation’s disciplinary and investigative committees since 2019.
Robleh’s position reportedly came under increasing pressure following the controversy surrounding sanctions imposed after the Africa Cup of Nations Final between Morocco and Senegal. The disciplinary decisions that followed the match sparked criticism from several quarters and placed CAF’s legal framework under intense scrutiny.
In response to the situation, CAF’s Executive Committee has appointed Togolese lawyer Cedric Egai, currently the confederation’s Director of Legal Affairs, as interim head of the judicial bodies.
Egai is expected to stabilise the organisation’s legal arm while CAF works toward appointing a permanent successor to Robleh.
Disciplinary Decisions Delayed
The leadership change has already affected ongoing disciplinary processes within the confederation. CAF’s disciplinary committee reportedly held hearings last Thursday on several cases, including the high-profile encounter involving Egypt’s Al Ahly and Morocco’s AS FAR.
However, decisions on those matters have been temporarily put on hold pending the confirmation of new leadership within the judicial structure.
Sources indicate that once a permanent successor is appointed, CAF will move swiftly to conclude outstanding disciplinary rulings affecting both clubs and national teams.
Restoring Confidence
The move is widely seen as part of CAF’s effort to restore confidence in its judicial system following weeks of controversy surrounding disciplinary decisions at major competitions.
Robleh’s departure closes a significant chapter in CAF’s legal administration, while Egai’s interim appointment signals a potential shift in leadership and governance at a critical time for African football.
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