Morocco appoint Halilhodzic to spearhead Qatar 2022 qualification bid
August 16 – Vahid Halilhodzic has replaced Herve Renard as the new boss of Morocco in a reported three-year deal.
Africa
FIFA set to join CAF to defend Bility complaint at CAS
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 15 – FIFA, world football’s governing body, has applied to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) to become a co-defendant with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which is being sued by Liberia’s Musa Hassan Bility, who was recently banned for 10 years by FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
Ahmad and Infantino cheerleader Chiyangwa banned for life by Zimbabwe FA
By Andrew Warshaw
August 15 – One of Gianni Infantino’s staunchest allies, former Zimbabwe FA (ZIFA) boss Philip Chiyangwa, has been banned for life by his own federation for “bringing Zimbabwean football into disrepute.”
Former FIFA governance chair Maduro questions legality of Samoura’s African gig
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 15 – Miguel Maduro, the immediate past chairman of FIFA’s Governance Committee, has questioned the legitimacy of the appointment of Fatma Samoura as FIFA’s General Delegate for Africa, while the Senegalese still functions as the Secretary-General of football’s world governing body.
Bility says railroaded FIFA TV deals for African rights could damage FA funding
By Paul Nicholson
August 14 – Musa Bility, the CAF executive committee member who has been banned by FIFA, has criticised the mandate issued by FIFA for the collection of African FA World Cup qualification TV rights to be controlled and sold directly by FIFA.
CAF-FIFAgate: ‘If this isn’t colonisation, the Spaniards were pilgrims in South America’
By Paul Nicholson
August 13 – She has only been in the job two weeks but already Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary-General and General Delegate for Africa, has landed herself in a governance and conflict of interest crisis over the move to consolidate all African national federation World Cup broadcast rights under a FIFA sales arm.
FIFA reschedules dates as Ghana FA works towards regaining control
August 14 – The Normalisation Committee running football in Ghana has set a new date for an Extra-Ordinary Congress, moving it from August 26 to September 5.
Liberian FA bans ref for 2 years for taking bribe
August 14 – The Liberia Football Association (LFA) has banned referee Josephus Torjilar for two years for accepting a bribe.
Exclusive: FIFA swoops on African FAs’ World Cup rights with 8-day ultimatum
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 13 – In a highly unusual move, FIFA has asked the 54 member associations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to sign a one-page media rights “mandate” that gives the world governing body “an irrevocable mandate to implement a central marketing plan to market and commercialise the media rights for the FIFA African Qualifiers 2022 & 2026.”
FIFA inspectors visit Nigeria for 2020 U-20 Women’s World Cup bid appraisal
August 12 – Nigeria is in the running to host the 2020 U-20 Women’s World Cup. A FIFA inspection team visited facilities in the proposed host cities of Lagos, Benin City, Asaba and Uyo.
Bility armed for battle against FIFA ‘colonisation’ of CAF; Grafstrom denies threats
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 9 – Musa Bility, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee member, recently banned for 10 years, by the Adjudicatory Chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee, is accusing a key official of the world governing body of strong-arming him, over his refusal to accept FIFA’s direct intervention in CAF’s affairs.
Doubts raised over Cameroon’s ability to host AFCON 2021
August 9 – Having been stripped of hosting rights for this year’s African Cup of Nations due to lack of preparations, Cameroon may not even be ready to stage the showpiece event in two years’ time, according to their all-time leading goalscorer.
Esperance keep CAF Champions League title but president Meddeb fined over safety threats
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 7 – CAF’s Disciplinary Committee (DC) have confirmed that Tunisian club Esperance remain the 2019 African champions, after several weeks of controversy, following the abandonment of the May 31 Champions League final in Tunis, between them and Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) of Morocco.
Drogba, now special advisor to Ahmad, considers run at Ivory Coast FA presidency
August 8 – Former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba, who last month joined the African Football Confederation (CAF) as one of two special advisors to Ahmad Ahmad, is weighing up whether to run for president of his national federation according to l’Equipe.
‘Headbutting’ Moroccan FA president Fouzi Lekjaa lives to fight another day at CAF
By Paul Nicholson
August 6 – Moroccan FA president Fouzi Lekjaa, who allegedly head-butted Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema after the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final between RS Berkane and Zamalek, has had the charges against him of assault dismissed, despite eye witnesses being present.