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.
World football governing body, FIFA, today clocks its 122nd anniversary, celebrating more than a century of overseeing and expanding the global game.
Founded on May 21, 1904, in Paris, France, FIFA began with just seven member associations — France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
From that modest beginning, the organisation has grown into the most influential sports governing body in the world, with 211 member associations spread across all continents.
Over the decades, FIFA has transformed football into a truly global phenomenon through competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Club World Cup, youth tournaments, and developmental programmes aimed at growing the game worldwide.
The organisation has also witnessed remarkable milestones, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 teams beginning from the 2026 edition to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA’s journey has equally reflected football’s growing influence beyond sport, with the game becoming a major tool for diplomacy, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and economic development across the world.
As FIFA celebrates 122 years of existence, attention is now focused on the future of the game, technological innovations, expanded competitions, women’s football growth, and the continued globalisation of football.
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UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday.
Czech media reported that the coach was convicted in May 2025 and initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko’s players in changing rooms, the youngest of whom was 17.
In a statement, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) said it had decided to ban Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life” following the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate allegations of potential misconduct.
“The CEDB further decided to request FIFA to extend the abovementioned ban on a worldwide level and to order the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr Petr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence,” the statement added.
FC Slovacko did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban as well as UEFA’s request for world soccer governing body FIFA to impose an international ban on Vlachovsky.
“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the well-being of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO added in a statement.
Vlachovsky had also previously served as coach of the Czech women’s Under-19s team.
RELATED STORY: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2026/04/08/outrage-as-male-coach-who-secretly-filmed-women-players-still-free-to-work-in-football/
-Reuters
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Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoff final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton on aggregate in the semi, have been reinstated and will face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world’s richest soccer match.
Promotion to the Premier League, even with an immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth in the region of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons.
Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.
They have also been deducted four points from the start of next season in England’s second tier.
“An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training,” the EFL said.
“Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.
“The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.”
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that “parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May.
“Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday’s fixture,” the statement said.
‘BORO CALLED FOR SOUTHAMPTON EXPULSION
Middlesbrough had called for Southampton’s expulsion after having a training session at their Rockliffe Park site filmed 48 hours ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.
The north-east club said they welcomed the decision.
“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct,” the north Middlesbrough said in a statement.
“As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.”
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter the playoffs.
The south-coast club are the first to fall foul of the Football League’s regulation 127 — brought in after Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County seven years ago, an offence for which they were fined 200,000 pounds.
-Reuters
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