Sports
Fifa Appoints Samoura CAF’s Administrator
Football’s world governing body FIFA, has confirmed that its Secretary General, Fatma Samoura has been appointed ‘Fifa General Delegate for Africa’ in a bid to improve governance on the continent.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has recently been under scrutiny on several issues relating to both governance and administration.
Samoura, from Senegal, will take charge for six months from 1 August, with the relationship “renewable with the agreement of both organisations”.
“It was also agreed that Fifa and Caf will undertake as soon as possible a full forensic audit of Caf,” the statement added.
Samoura, 56, will remain secretary general of Fifa but will delegate various functions to others.
Fifa called the move an “exceptional and temporary measure” as it outlined the precise role the former United Nations official will take.
While Fifa is used to appointing so-called ‘Normalisation Committees’ to run member associations that require help, it is unusual for it to assist a confederation in similar difficulties.
Caf President Ahmad has been under scrutiny recently on several fronts, which include being questioned by French authorities in Paris in early June before being released without charge.
This was as “part of a probe into corruption, breach of trust and forgery” with the 59-year-old from Madasgascar dismissing all allegations against him as false.
Other recent issues include controversy relating to the African Champions League final and rescheduling the timing of the 2019, 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
He is also being investigated by Fifa’s ethics committee, whose probe will run independently and parallel to Samoura’s role, said a source with knowledge of the process.
The statement added that Ahmad proposed Fifa’s “expertise to assess the current situation in the African governing body … to ensure that Caf functions with transparency and efficiency while abiding to the highest governance”.
Assisted by several experts “in a spirit of partnership with President Ahmad and his team”, Samoura is set to:
To oversee operational management of Caf, including governance and administrative procedures
To ensure the efficient and professional organization of all Caf competitions
To support the growth and development of football in all countries and regions of Caf
These roles, which will run until at least 31 January, 2020 were approved unanimously by Caf’s Executive Committee, the statement added.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.