CAF releases Esperance’s $2.5m prize money for Champions League win
October 1 – African Champions League winners Esperance have today received their $2.5 million prize money from the Confederation of African Football.
Africa
Lagardere’s CAF contract under threat as FIFA-led admin makes new commercial play
Exclusive by Osasu Obayiuwana
September 30 – The 12-year billion-dollar contract between Lagardere Sport (LS) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is at risk of being a casualty of the ongoing CAF governance reforms being spearheaded by FIFA.
More CAF chaos as Zamalek switch CL match venue and date at 24 hours notice
September 30 – The increasingly dysfunctional Confederation of African Football (CAF) is embroiled in yet another embarrassing soap opera after a Champions League match between Senegalese club Generation Foot and Egyptian giants Zamalak at the weekend never took place when the location and venue were shifted at the last moment.
Pinnick investigation: Questions raised over integrity of Nigerian probe
By Paul Nicholson
September 19 – Doubts have been raised over the integrity of the Nigerian government investigation into Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick that has seen property reportedly seized, including his home in Park View Estate, in the Ikoyi suburb of Lagos.
Yusuf ban served but Amapakabo remains in charge of Nigerian U-23s
September 19 – The future of Nigeria’s under-23 side coach Salisu Yusuf (pictured), remains in limbo after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) decided to retain Imama Amapakabo as coach for the youth team despite Yusuf’s return from a ban.
Property seized as under-fire Pinnick named in Nigerian corruption probe
September 18 – In a fresh corruption probe, Nigerian authorities have seized a dozen properties from senior officials of its football federation, including the president Amaju Pinnick, until a few months ago the second most powerful figure in African football.
FIFA bosses allegedly block CAF whistleblower El-Sherei’s return after Egyptian FA offer job
By Osasu Obayiuwana
September 16 – Mohamed El-Sherei, recently sacked as CAF’s Finance Director, following allegations of impropriety and incompetence, received another setback, after a subsequent job offer to him from the Normalisation Committee (NC) of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) was withdrawn.
Esperance finally win CAF Champions League. But will Wydad play CAS leg?
By Osasu Obayiuwana
September 14 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made its final conclusion – political and judicial – on the 2019 Champions League – and it is that Esperance Sportive de Tunis remains the Cup holder.
The never-ending final: CAF set to hear ‘walk-out’ Wydad’s Champions League appeal
By Osasu Obayiuwana
September 13 – The African Champions League drama takes a further twist on Sunday 15 September, as the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) sits to consider the fate of Moroccan Club Wydad Casablanca.
Sierra Leone fans run riot after Bangura misses penalty
September 13 – Sierra Leone football, for months embroiled in an internal power struggle, has been further rocked by two off-the-field incidents that have caused widespread embarrassment within the federation’s leadership.
Not takeover, its reform: FIFA gets its teeth into CAF’s ‘reform’ process
September 11 – Originally sold as ‘help’ to run the organisation and conduct an audit of its financial affairs, to be led by FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura in an additional role as FIFA Delegate for Africa, the takeover has now morphed into what is being called a CAF-FIFA Reform Task Force.
World Cup 2022 qualifiers: Somalian heartbreak, Guinea-Bissau history makers
By Samindra Kunti
September 11 – Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat broke Somalian hearts with a late strike on Tuesday to end East Africans dreams of progressing to the group phase of World Cup qualifying for the first time. At the end of the emotions, Guinea-Bissau created history, progressing for the first time with a 2-1 aggregate win over Sao Tome e Principe.
Financial squeeze: CAF withholds payments to nations and clubs
By Osasu Obayiuwana
September 6 – Prize money due to the top three teams at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Final in Egypt is yet to be paid in full.
Cameroon’s Fecafoot suspends pro league as sponsors sought to help pay players
September 5 – The Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) has stepped in to oversee the domestic league for at least the next two years after the suspension of Cameroon’s Professional Football League (LPFC).
CAF nations begin Qatar 2022 qualifying with first knockout rounds
September 4 – African nations kick off their long road to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar today with the continent’s 28 lowest-ranked sides playing for a place in the second round group phase qualifying that begins next March.