A drastic and dramatic overhaul of African football is expected
to be announced on Thursday, the eve of the kickoff of the African
Cup of Nations, in the wake of corruption scandals consuming the
Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The CAF executive committee took a stunning decision on
Wednesday to cede control of the running of the organisation and
have FIFA general secretary, Fatma Samoura parachuted in as “FIFA
High Commissioner for Africa”, according to sources.
No announcement has been made by African football’s governing
body but CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad is scheduled to hold a press
conference in Cairo on Thursday at 0900 GMT.
Ahmad, who is the subject of an ethics investigation by FIFA
after allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct, proposed the
idea in a document shared with colleagues on the executive
committee, the sources said.
Samoura is to lead a FIFA team that will conduct “a
root-and-branch review of governance of the confederation, oversee
operational management of the organisation, and recommend where
needed a series of reform efforts,” the document read.
“This will be done in order to put CAF itself on a modern and
sound footing, improve its image and reputation and thus ensure
that CAF is better equipped to face future challenges and to grasp
future opportunities.”
FIFA are to also undertake a forensic audit of the monies they
have been giving CAF.
The idea of sending Samoura to Africa is said to have been put
together by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF vice president
Amaju Pinnick in the wake of Ahmad’s brief detention by French
police last week for questioning on corruption allegations.
Ahmad, who is seeking to hold onto some semblance of power or
even walk away from his post without sanction, had been forced to
accept the deal and then propose it to his own colleagues, CAF
sources told Reuters on Thursday.
With FIFA seeking to improve football’s image, the Ahmad
controversy has come as major embarrassment to Infantino, who has
been claiming a new-look, clean and corruption-free FIFA.
Ahmad, by virtue of his position as leader of African football,
is automatically a FIFA vice president.
African football has been rocked not only by the firing of CAF
general secretary Amr Fahmy for whistle blowing, but also a walk
off in the Champions League final and the alleged assault on a
referee by another of CAF’s vice presidents.
The Cup of Nations kicks off in Cairo on Friday when hosts Egypt
take on Zimbabwe,
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