Military forces gone, renovation complete, Stadium Mogadishu returns to football
June 30 – Having waited since 2004, Somalia today sees the return to football in its national stadium – Stadium Mogadishu.
Africa
Cameroon’s AFCON 2020 in Jan looks in doubt as shift to 2021 mooted
June 16 – More doubt is being cast on next year’s African Nations Cup in Cameroon because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tanzania is first African nation to restart top league, with fans
June 15 – Tanzania has become the first African country to resume the league season after an enforced coronavirus shutdown since March. Local authorities have imposed strict protocols to stage matches and allow fans in attendance.
More turmoil for CAF as AFCON 2021’s January dates look doubtful
May 29 – Reports in Africa suggest next year’s African Cup of Nations may be in jeopardy because of the Covid-19 outbreak, a further blow to hosts Cameroon.
Controversial Zamalek chief proclaims his club as ‘African club of the century’
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
May 29 – Zamalek’s controversial president Murtada Mansour has proclaimed his club as ‘African club of the century’, 20 years after Al-Ahly were officially given the moniker by African governing body CAF.
Coronavirus: Four more African FA’s abandon league seasons, taking total to eight
By Samindra Kunti
May 6 – The list of seasons that won’t be completed is growing. In Africa, Congo, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Niger have all cancelled the remainder of their seasons because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Clubs clash with FKF over decision to end Kenyan league season
May 6 – Competing stakeholders in Kenyan football have clashed over the decision to wind up the league because of the coronavirus.
African challengers line up to challenge Ahmad’s CAF supremacy
April 30 – Speculation is mounting that under-fire African football supremo Ahmad Ahmad (pictured) may be facing several challenges to his rule.
Coronavirus: Egyptian FA locks down all football for further 15 days
April 24 – Egypt has extended the suspension of all football activities in the country for another 15 days as a containment measure against the spread of the coronavirus.
Kenya on brink of being kicked out of 2022 qualifiers for failure to pay former coach
April 24 – Kenya is on the verge of being banned from World Cup qualifiers saying they do not have the funds to meet today’s deadline to pay former coach Adel Amrouche (pictured).
CAF suspends its flagship club competitions
April 20 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed its two major clubs finals in May because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Exclusive: CAF VP Constant Omari opens up on Ahmad, PwC audit and Lagardere
By Osasu Obayiuwana
April 9 – Facing rigorous criticism for the poor state of its financial affairs, following the completion of a detailed forensic audit by PwC (Price Waterhouse Coopers), top officials of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) refuse to accept the various allegations of financial impropriety laid at its door in Cairo.
Coronavirus: Mauritius is first African nation to abandon season
April 9 – Mauritius has become the first African country to cancel its professional league season “with immediate effect” due to the coronavirus outbreak.
New Namibia FA boss Haikali says audit reveals funds were embezzled
April 2 – The new president of the Namibia Football Association, Ranga Haikali, who vowed to rebuild trust and credibility when he took over in February, has revealed “damning findings” against the federation’s former leadership following a new financial audit reportedly ordered by FIFA.
Coronavirus: OM’s former Senegalese president Pape Diouf dies, aged 68
April 2 – France, Senegal and the wider football world are mourning the death of former Olympique de Marseille president Pape Diouf after contracting Covid-19.