Stadium stampede at Malawi club match leaves eight dead
July 7 – Eight people have died, seven of them children, in a Malawi stampede on independence day ahead of a match between two local teams.
Africa
Tanzania progress on the pitch success but corruption chaos rages behind the scenes
By Mark Baber
July 5 – Whilst on the pitch Tanzania are playing Zambia this evening in the COSAFA semi-finals, off the pitch the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has been thrown into chaos by last week’s arrest of its president Jamal Malinzi (pictured), secretary general Mwesiga Celestine and accountant Ms Nsiande Mwanga on corruption allegations.
Sudan in last minute escape from FIFA international ban
By Mark Baber
July 3 – Sudan has managed to escape a FIFA ban, which had been due to go into force on Friday, after a last-minute deal was reached between feuding factions competing for control of the Sudan Football Association.
Tanzania FA president detained over ‘corruption’ allegations as elections near
By Mark Baber
June 30 – Tanzania’s Football Federation(TFF) president, Jamal Malinzi (pictured), has been arrested over corruption allegations, following an incomplete investigation, in circumstances which suggest a deliberate attempt to prevent him participating in upcoming TFF elections.
Sudan faces imminent FIFA ban over government interference
By Mark Baber
June 30 -FIFA has given Sudan a final warning that it faces an international ban from football unless it overturns a governmental order to install a new football association president today (Friday).
CAF issues warning over using football as a political weapon to isolate Qatar
By Mark Baber
June 23 – As the Gulf diplomatic crisis rumbles on, with no end in sight, the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has issued a statement aimed at limiting the spread of damage to football, in the wake of Egypt’s national team and Cairo club Ahly refusing to give access to Qatari-owned sport channel beIN Sports in recent matches.
South African row brews over ‘slave wages’ for top players
June 22 – A row has broken out over wages in the top divisions of South African football following claims that Kaizer Chiefs’ Bruce Bvuma was earning just R5000 (£303) per month against the background of a FIFPro survey which suggests 38% of players are earning less than R8000 (£486) a month.
CAF gives Kenya more time, but race is on to keep CHAN 2018 hosting
By Mark Baber
June 18 – After a week of inspections of stadia CAF have given Kenya more time to make progress, whilst assuring that a Plan B is in place for hosting of the CHAN tournament in January 2018, in case “there are some problems.”
Questionmarks over Kenya’s hosting of CHAN 2018 as stadium deadlines near
By Mark Baber
June 16 – Despite optimistic noises from sections of the Kenyan press and Football Federation of Kenya officials and with a African football confederation (CAF) inspection team currently in the country to examine preparations, Kenya’s hosting of CHAN 2018 is in peril due to delays in preparing adequate host stadiums.
Nigeria: no balls, no goals and an emergency summons from the sports minister
By Mark Baber
June 12 – A busy weekend of international football saw African Cup of Nations qualification under way in earnest, with all 48 teams in contention having now completed their first game in the Group stage, whilst European qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup have passed the halfway stage.
Samoura steps into Sudan FA row to protect local proxies
By Andrew Warshaw
June 9 – One month after suspending the elections of the Sudan Football Association (SFA) at the request of the incumbent SFA officals, FIFA have now threatened to throw out the African country altogether if a controversial government decree is not revoked within the next 24 hours.
Abu Rida calls African presidents to Cairo for celebration, lobbying and a private jet ride
By Paul Nicholson in Manama, Bahrain
May 7 – Hany Abu Rida, the Egyptian FA president who is standing for election to the FIFA Council, arrived in Manama, Bahrain, for the FIFA Congress from Cairo this afternoon (Sunday May 7) on a private jet accompanied by more than 30 of his African federation colleagues.
Zul gets all-clear to stand in an African election that has been rigged from the start
By Paul Nicholson in Manama, Bahrain
May 7 – The odds – as well as CAF and FIFA – were stacked against him, with few even expecting him to make it to the start line for the African election of its last FIFA Council member. It has been a political process that makes the not-so-long-ago days of Issa Hayatou’s reign as president of the confederation start to look like a model for transparency and equality.
Race for CAF seat on FIFA Council hots up with former development chief entering fray
By Paul Nicholson
April 27 – The African race for a position on the FIFA Council has a new competitor. Former FIFA senior development manager for Africa, Zelkifili Ngoufonja (better known in football circles as Zul), has put himself and is campaigning on a platform of transparency, youth development and a good deal for Africa at FIFA.
Bility under fire again in Liberia as women walk out over broken cash promises
By Paul Nicholson
April 19 – Controversial Liberian FA president Musa Bility, who failed eligibility tests to stand for the FIFA presidency but who nevertheless engineered a position for himself on CAF’s executive committee, is under renewed pressure in Liberia with the women’s football league clubs pulling out en masse from the current season after multiple promises of financial support for the clubs never materialised.