Governing Bodies
DANGOTE, CONCACAF, ZENITH BANK CONGRATULATE PINNICK
The list of major figures and leading entities felicitating with President of the NFF and new FIFA Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has soared with one of the richest men in the world, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Confederation of Central American and Caribbeans FAs and Zenith Bank PLC throwing in their own words of salute.
Dangote, President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, wrote: “Once again, you have shown your acceptability by a landslide victory, with 43 votes out of 51.
“Your achievements in revolutionising the face of football in Nigeria and Africa have not gone unnoticed by your peers around the continent and beyond. Indeed, you now have a unique opportunity to showcase your competence at the global level.
“Your emergence at this period is timely as Nigerians are making their mark internationally in various fields of endeavour. As you have earned a place in the main decision-making organ of the world football’s governing body, I have no doubt that you will contribute your quota in reforms aimed at modernizing the governing bodies of CAF and FIFA.”
Victor Montagliani, President of CONCACAF stated that “this is an important personal achievement for you and rewards your dedication to the game. I look forward to working with you and to your valuable contributions to the development of football around the world.”
Zenith Bank, in its message signed by Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Group Managing Director/CEO, said: “Your election into FIFA’s main decision-making body is a testament to your visionary leadership style and an affirmation of your outstanding contributions to the game of football. Through your work at Delta State Football Association, Nigeria Football Federation and the Confederation of African Football, you championed the cause of Nigerian and African football, creating opportunities for millions of young people on the continent.”
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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