FIFA acts on systemic sexual abuse in Gabon with first four officials banned
May 4 – FIFA have extended an investigation into alleged systematic sexual abuse of under-age players in Gabon by opening formal proceedings against four officials.
Africa
Draw for Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July pairs Nigeria and Africa in same group
May 3 – Paired in the same group, Nigeria and South Africa will headline the first round of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July.
Senegal fined after World Cup 2022 qualifying win over Egypt
May 3 – FIFA has ordered Senegal to play one competitive match behind closed doors and has fined Senegal’s FA CHF175,000 for fan disorder at a World Cup playoff game, including shining laser pointers at Liverpool’s Egyptian star striker Mohamed Salah.
Gabon FA president accused of long term cover-up of paedophile ring
April 25 – The president of the Gabonese Football Federation, Pierre Alain Mounguengui, re-elected for a third four-year term less than a week ago, is reported to be in police custody accused of covering up a long-time paedophilia scandal.
Diallo wins Ivory Coast presidency as Drogba fails to convince electorate
April 25 – Didier Drogba has failed in his bid to become the new president of Ivory Coast’s FA (FIF). Yacine Idriss Diallo (pictured) has been elected to the position after beating Sory Diabaté by two votes in a second round of voting. The former Chelsea star exited the race in the first round with just 21 votes.
Court-martialled: Normalisation committee gives Namibia’s Franco Cosmos his marching orders
April 25 – A normalisation committee running the affairs of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) has fired NFA Secretary General Franco Cosmos with immediate effect after he was found guilty on five counts out of the nine brought against him followed months of division and in-fighting.
AFCON 2023 qualifying draw plots national team routes to Ivory Coast finals
April 20 – Record seven-time Nations Cup winners Egypt were handed a difficult draw alongside Guinea, Malawi and Ethiopia in Group D of the qualifiers for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast.
Malawi’s Mwase makes way for Marinica but later offered U23 role
April 18 – Meck Mwase is to remain a part of the Malawi national team structure despite having been dismissed as head coach of the senior men’s team by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM). He has now been appointed to the role of U23 national team coach.
South Sudan shows loyalty to Infantino; Nigeria’s Pinnick co-opted into FIFA’s power play
By Samindra Kunti
April 14 – South Sudan has once again declared its love for Gianni Infantino, becoming the first African FA to endorse the FIFA president for re-election.
Egypt appoint Galal as Queiroz successor, Ivory Coast release Beaumelle
April 13 – Ehab Galal has succeeded Carlos Queiroz as head coach of Egypt’s national team, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) have announced.
FIFA get their man. Drogba eventually cleared to run presidency of Ivory Coast FA
April 12 – Former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba has been cleared to stand in the presidential elections of Ivory Coast’s Football Federation (FIF), which will be staged on April 23 after two years of political turmoil.
Eqypt end Queiroz contract after Senegal’s World Cup knockout blows
April 11 – Egypt and Carlos Queiroz have parted ways after the Portuguese coach failed to lead the Pharaohs to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Egypt and Nigeria out as Mane penalty and away goals send Senegal and Ghana to Qatar
March 30 – Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia all booked their places at the World Cup finals Tuesday on a frantic night of final African play-off action.
Drogba waiting in the wings as Ivory Coast elections postponed
March 10 – The elections of the Ivory Coast’s football federation (FIF) have once against been postponed, with eligibility issues prompting the new delay.
FIFPRO and Kenyan players’ body appeal to CAS to let women compete at AFCON
March 9 – World players union FIFPRO and Kenya Footballers Welfare Association have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the cancellation of Kenya’s qualifier with Uganda, which ruled the Kenyan women’s national team out of the Africa Cup of Nations and quashed any chance of the country qualifying for the 2023 World Cup.