Ivory Coast anger as Ahmad shunts AFCON hosting to 2023, handing 2021 to Cameroon
December 7 – The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has reacted furiously to the latest curve ball thrown by African football chief Ahmad Ahmad.
Africa
Egypt pull out of 2019 AFCON hosting race, leaving Morocco and SA to battle it out
December 6 – The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has pulled out of the bidding race for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, saying it “will not compete with another Arabic country.” Morocco and South Africa remain as favourites to host the continent’s flagship competition.
FIFA support of Johansen forces CAF to kick Sierra Leone out of AFCON qualifiers
December 5 – The still unresolved power battle within Sierra Leone football administration has had a significant damaging on effect on the field with the country thrown out of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign because of government interference in the running of the federation.
CAF strip Cameroon of AFCON 2019 hosting; Morocco and SA want the gig
By Andrew Warshaw
December 3 – After insisting there was no plan B and promising only last month that his organisation had “never thought about” an alternative venue, African football chief Ahmad Ahmad has bowed to growing pressure and stripped Cameroon of hosting rights for next year’s African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria scoop AFCON women’s title for 9th time after penalty shoot-out with SA
By Samindra Kunti
December 3 – Nigeria retained their stranglehold on African women’s football, winning a ninth Africa Cup of Nations with 4-3 penalty shoot-out win against South Africa in the final. In the third-place playoff, Cameroon claimed Africa’s last ticket for next year’s Women’s World Cup in France.
Following the cash: FIFA open South African development office
November 30 – FIFA have opened a regional office in South Africa to serve the interests of the 14 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations.
CAF 2018 Player of the Year nominees dominated by overseas club players
November 30 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the names of the nominees for its annual awards with 34 men and 15 women vying for the African Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year awards.
North Africans call for AFCON switch from Cameroon to Morocco
November 29 – Cameroon’s hosting of the upcoming African Nations Cup is back in the balance after the north African grouping of football nations called for the tournament to be switched to Morocco.
Hayatou vows to fight ‘grotesque’ $27.9m fine from Egyptian court over Lagardere contract
November 29- Issa Hayatou, former President of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), has launched a scathing attack on the huge fine imposed on him by an Egyptian court over a broadcasting deal for Africa’s football governing body, insisting the decision was politically motivated.
Mali break new ground joining Nigeria, SA, and Cameroon in AFCON women’s semis
November 26 – Mali progressed to the knockout phase of the women’s African Cup of Nations for the first time in seven attempts at the expense of hosts Ghana in group A. Reigning champions Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon complete the semi-final line-up.
Ghana and South Africa show early form as Women’s Afcon kicks off
November 19 – Hosts Ghana kicked off the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win against Algeria in Accra on Saturday. South Africa provided the first major upset of the finals defeating powerhouse Nigeria 1-0.
CAS rules Kenya out of Women’s AFCON after last minute appeal
November 16 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the Kenyan appeal to be re-admitted to the Women’s African Cup of Nations which starts in Ghana this weekend.
Kenyan fury at women’s last gasp exclusion forces them to CAS; AFCON kicks off Saturday
November 15 – Kenya’s Football authorities have provided further explanation as to why they have gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the decision to reinstate Equatorial Guinea into the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations which starts on Saturday.
Kenya’s last minute pull out forces Cecafa to cancel Challenge Cup
November 14 – In the latest blow to the administration of African football, the 12-member Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) has cancelled its Senior Challenge Cup, scheduled to start later this month.
FIFA takes charge at CAF president Ahmad’s home Malagasy FA
November 13 – Somewhat embarrassingly for the most powerful official in African football, Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad (pictured), FIFA has appointed a normalisation committee to run the affairs of his country’s federation, the latest African FIFA member to become embroiled in internal politics.