Uganda cleared to play on as politicians commit to non-interference
July 13 – FIFA says there is no longer any threat of Uganda being banned for government interference following a meeting involving representatives from all parties.
Africa
CAF clamps down on bribers, dopers and punching refs
July 12 – The vice-president of the Equatorial Guinea FA, Gustavo N’dong Edu, has been banned for two years by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and fined $25,000 after being found guilty of attempting to bribe referees in the Women’s AFCON 2016 qualifier against Mali.
Nigerian legend Stephen Keshi dies suddenly, aged 54
June 8 – One of Africa’s football legends, Nigerian Stephen Keshi, has died suddenly at the age of 54. Keshi is one of only two people to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and a coach.
Giwa plans second shot at Glass House occupation as Pinnick heads for Mexico Congress
By Mark Baber
May 10 – The Chris Giwa faction of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), acting in accordance with a widely held interpretation of a recent court ruling, attempted a take-over of the NFF Glass House HQ on Friday, before being asked to help police with their enquiries and then pledging to return on Monday.
Dead referee appointed to officiate game symptomatic of Nigerian admin chaos
By Mark Baber
April 25 – The Nigerian soap opera continues as rival groups claim to represent the official Nigerian Football Federation – with the appointment of a dead referee as match official symptomatic of the chaos in the country’s football administration.
George Weah to take second shot at becoming president of Liberia
April 25 – Liberia’s George Weah, regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time and the first African to win FIFA’s player of the year award, is to make a second bid to become president of his troubled nation – 11 years after losing a bitter campaign.
Sierra Leone target 10 in long running match-fixing probe
April 20 – A match-fixing inquiry conducted by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has announced that “10 persons of interest” are to be quizzed and investigated over long-standing allegations.
FIFA ban Equatorial Guinea women from 2020 Olympic qualifiers
April 12 – Equatorial Guinea have been thrown out of the 2020 women’s Olympic preliminary qualifying football tournament by FIFA after one of their players was found to have used two passports with conflicting details.
NFF revolution as Pinnick’s Board is dismissed by Nigerian court ruling
By Mark Baber
April 11 – With Nigeria having been eliminated from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, the factional struggle for control of the Nigerian Football Federation has returned with a vengeance as, on Friday, Chris Giwa’s group returned to court, winning a ruling which effectively makes Giwa head of the federation and overthrows the Amaju Pinnick-led board.
Zimbabwe row over coach’s salary sours sponsor relationship
By Mark Baber
April 6 – With the Zimbabwean national teams performing well and the Warriors three points clear at the top of their 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying group, a row which threatens future sponsorship of the national team has broken out after an article in local media revealed the national coach’s ‘Salary Hell’.
Embarrassed Nigeria set to challenge CAF rules after AFCON failure
By Mark Baber
April 1 – As the blame game for Nigeria’s disastrous qualification campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations begins, the Nigerian Football Federation says its legal team is looking to take the African Football Confederation (CAF) to court over their exit, claiming it was unfair.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles plummet as Morocco qualify for 2017 AFCON
By Mark Baber
March 30 – Tuesday’s raft of qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations saw Morocco become the competition’s first qualifiers, whilst Nigeria plagued by in-fighting in its Federation was knocked out of the running by Egypt in Alexandria.
Chad pull out leaves Nigeria with must-win game against Egypt tonight
By Mark Baber
Chad has pulled its team out of the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, meaning all their games in Group G have been annulled. As a consequence, Nigeria will be eliminated from the tournament if they lose to Group leaders Egypt this evening in Alexandria.
Sierra Leone host Gabon in return to national competition
March 29 – Following Sierra Leone’s recent symbolic friendly with Malawi, the first on home soil since the west African country was officially declared free of Ebola, regional competition returned on Monday with a 1-0 win over Gabon in the capital Freetown.
Pressure mounts on Jordaan who opts to put SA commitments before FIFA duties
By Andrew Warshaw
March 22 – Pressure is mounting on Danny Jordaan, the public face of the 2010 South Africa World Cup and head of his country’s FA, to explain how much he knew about FIFA’s belief that bribes were paid to secure the tournament.