By Paul Nicholson
March 12 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino opened the 43rd CAF Congress in Rabat, Morocco – pretty much his home constituency in the balance of FIFA’s politics these days – with an emphasis on African unity and yet another pledge to drive Africa to the top of the world game on the field of play.
March 12 – The sports ministry of Chad has dissolved the Federation of Chad Football Associations (FTFA) the country’s FA, which could led to a ban from the global game by FIFA.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 11 – In the end, all the campaigning and lobbying proved fruitless – for three of the candidates at least.
By Paul Nicholson
March 9 – Former CAF executive committee member and Liberian FA president Musa Bility has issued a warning to his African football colleagues over what he calls the “FIFA-fronted capitulation of CAF presidential candidates”.
March 9 – While the race for the CAF presidency pretty much over with three of the candidates challenging for the position having agreed deals to pull out in favour of South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe, the jostling for position on CAF’s executive committee and the FIFA Council is taking centre stage.
March 9 – The 2021 edition of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations has been cancelled at the last minute by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), leaving hosts Morocco embarrassed on the eve of the governing body’s 43rd general assembly.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 8 – The behind-the-scenes deal-making that for weeks has characterised the election for the top job in African football has resulted in three of the four candidates – Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor and Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania – pulling out at the 11th hour in favour of giving South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, the preferred choice of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a clear run for the CAF presidency.
March 8 – Disgraced Confederation of African Football president Ahmad Ahmad has lost his appeal against his FIFA ban for corruption but has won a reduction in the length of that ban from five years to two.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – With exactly one week to go before African football chooses its next leader, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his recent tour of the Continent to meet with the candidates, denying he has in any way been meddling in the election process.
March 3 – Senegal’s candidate to become the next leader of African football, Augustin Senghor (pictured), appears to be a step closer to throwing in the towel as a result of the apparent deal-making that has characterised the March 12 election process.
By Paul Nicholson
March 3 – CAF presidential candidate Jacques Anouma is continuing on the campaign trial in his bid for the leadership of African football despite reports that he had agreed to step away from the election at the weekend.
By Paul Nicholson
March 2 – CAF presidential candidate Jacques Anouma (pictured) has responded to a request from the head of the FIFA Governance Committee Mukul Mukdal saying that he has not received any funding for his election campaign from the Ivory Coast government.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 2 – Almost unnoticed amidst the ongoing shenanigans surrounding the four candidates vying to take over from him, the appeal of African football chief Ahmad Ahmad against his five-year FIFA ban was due to take place today.
By Paul Nicholson
March 1 – It was a busy weekend of politicking for the CAF presidential candidates in Rabat, Morocco, with the added spice and presence of FIFA emissaries whose work increasingly looks likely to determine who will lead African football following the March elections.
March 1 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has lifted its ban on international matches being played in Libya following a visit to the country to inspect facilities and security.