Ethiopia and Eritrea agree friendly match after years of war and boycotts
July 24 – Ethiopia and Eritrea, at war for 20 years until a recent peace accord and rapprochement, have agreed to stage an historic friendly in August.
Africa
CAF back Pinnick in Nigerian row as government calls for emergency talks
July 23 – The political in-fighting plaguing Nigerian football has taken another twist with the man ousted as head of the national federation (NFF) being personally endorsed by his confederation.
Ghanaian club boss warns government to stay out of election for new FA chief
July 19 – The head of Ghana’s League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Kudjoe Fianoo (pictured), has urged the government not to attempt to impose its own preferred candidate on the national federation as talks continue to find a successor to disgraced former African powerbroker Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Sierra Leone stakeholders split as FIFA delays keep Johansen in place
July 18 – The bitter in-fighting over who runs the game in Sierra Leone has burst back into the spotlight after several months of relative quiet with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) saying it will be submitting a draft of its new statutes for FIFA’s approval in the coming days.
Nigerian FA crisis deepens as league suspended indefinitely
July 18 – The resumption of Nigeria’s domestic league has been postponed indefinitely amid a leadership crisis that has caused total gridlock with a FIFA ban imminent.
Nigeria on the brink of expulsion as government minister says even FIFA must obey the law
July 17 – Nigerian authorities are digging in their heels over who runs the national FA despite a warning from FIFA president Gianni Infantino that the country risks being thrown out of international competition.
Nigeria risks FIFA expulsion unless Pinnick is restored as FA boss, says Infantino
July 16 – Nigeria will be kicked out of FIFA unless they comply with strict regulations over government interference in the affairs of their national association, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed.
Nigeria flirts with FIFA ban as court delays ruling on Giwa’s government-backed power grab
July 13 – Nigeria is heading ever closer to a FIFA ban unless it resolves the bitter internal rift over the role of Amaju Pinnick according to counsel to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Festus Keyamo.
Transitioning: FIFA/CAF liaison committee meets Ghana FA staff wages
July 10 – The liaison team formed by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to secure a road map for the future of Ghanaian football in the wake of the incriminating BBC documentary that exposed widespread corruption is to pay the outstanding salaries to Ghana Football Association employees according to local reports.
CAF issues life ban to Kenyan ref Marwa over $600 gift sting
July 9 – The rising career of Kenyan referee Aden Marwa has been terminated after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday banned him for life.
Former Nigerian coach Onigbinde says FIFA ban would be a ‘blessing in disguise’
July 4 – Former Nigerian coach Adegboye Onigbinde has advised the new leadership of the national federation under Chris Giwa not to be intimidated by any FIFA ban that might be imposed as a result of the current crisis.
Nigerian FA coup. Giwa gets government backing, forcing Pinnick back to FIFA for protection
By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – No sooner has the national team returned from the World Cup after exiting at the group stage than Nigerian football has been plunged into crisis off the field over the presidency of the federation (NFF).
FIFA focusses on Ghana government to partner rebirth of national FA
June 29 – FIFA’s strict rules on government interference in the affairs of its member federations has been called into question in Ghana where reports suggest only government representatives – and not footballing officials – were called to today’s meeting in Zurich to discuss the corruption crisis in the African country.
Africa’s early exits leave the World Cup a poorer place and a continent with work to do
By Andrew Warshaw
June 29 – Over a generation has gone by since Pele famously predicted than an African team would win the World Cup by the year 2000. But if anything African football, which has long been clamouring for more World Cup slots, has gone backwards.
Ghana-FIFA talks still on despite withdrawal of FA chairman
June 28 – Former Ghana Football Association chairman Nana Sam Brew-Butler has pulled out of crisis talks with FIFA over the future of the game in the African country.