April 17 – A new leadership cycle is underway at the Malian Football Federation, with Mahazou Cissé elected president following an extraordinary general assembly held on Thursday.
Cissé, widely known as ‘Baba’, secured an overwhelming mandate, receiving 95.83% of the vote – 69 in favour, one against and two abstentions – after emerging as the only candidate validated ahead of the election. His appointment brings a degree of clarity to a federation that has faced a prolonged period of internal instability.
An economist by background, Cissé takes charge with a stated focus on governance reform, stakeholder alignment and the professionalisation of the domestic game.
He replaces Mamoutou Touré, whose tenure came to an abrupt end earlier this year following the resignation of multiple executive committee members. Touré, first elected in 2019, was a controversial figure, not least after standing for re-election in 2023 while in prison – a situation that drew scrutiny from both domestic stakeholders and FIFA.
The reset at federation level comes at a time when Mali’s national teams continue to perform competitively on the continental stage, particularly at youth level, but without the same stability off the pitch. Aligning administrative structures with on-field progress will be one of the immediate challenges facing the new leadership.
Cissé’s emphasis on unity within the Malian game is likely to be tested early, with divisions between clubs, regional bodies and federation officials having surfaced repeatedly in recent years. How quickly those relationships can be rebuilt – and whether governance reforms translate into tangible improvements for clubs and competitions – will shape the next phase of Femafoot’s development.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]