CAF
Somali FA president Abdiqani crowned African football leader of the year
The president of Somali Football Federation and CECAFA vice president, Abdiqani Said Arab, has been crowned as the African Football leader of the year, after receiving the prestigious award during the Glo awards ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria over night on Thursday.
The president has been recognized as the leader of the year because of his dedication to football and the professional organization of football development programs that protected thousands of Somali youths from falling into the hands of notorious criminals in the country.
In his opening address of the Glo awards ceremony, CAF president and FIFA acting president, Issa Hayatou, commended Somali FA president for the good organization of football activities back in his war-devastated country of Somalia.
“A special salute this year goes to the president of the Somali Football Federation, Abdiqani Said Arab, honored in the [leader of the year] category. In a very complex context, he succeeds to continue hoisting football as a vector of peace, a rallying factor, a cause of hope for the Somali youth” CAF president Issa Hayatou said in his opening address.
After receiving the award, SFF president Abdiqani Said Arab, said that such high profile recognition was marking a great honor and publicity for him, his federation members and the entire people of Somalia.
“On behalf of Somali Football family, I would like to thank CAF president Issa Hayatou and his executive committee for honoring Somalia to have such high level award. Somalia has gained this victory with a team work, so thanks to my executive committee members, the secretariat and the stakeholders for their cooperation” president Abdiqani Said Arab noted.
“I take this opportunity to thank CAF Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani and his team for being fully aware of what is going on around the continent and particularly in Somalia” president Abdiqani Said Arab explained.
The president said that receiving this award was encouraging him and members of the SFF to redouble the football-related development programs in the country.
“Knowing the difficulty situation in the country, we are committed to increasing our efforts until we realize our dreams of approaching a higher level than we are today” Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab said.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has introduced a new African Nations League.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the CAF President made the announcement on Saturday during a press conference held in Rabat, Morocco ahead of the kick off of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
The CAF President said the African Nations League to start in 2029 will he held every two years. He also made it clear that CAF will partner with FIFA on the African Nations League.
He made it clear that during the FIFA World Cup, CAF will not host an African Senior National Team competition to enable the 9 or 10 Africans teams that will be competing at the FIFA World Cup, to focus on preparations.
“We are excited about the new changes that we have introduced, which will make African Senior National Team Competitions amongst the best in the World, with the best African football players who play in the best Leagues in the world, participating, every year in Africa’s Senior National Team Competitions,” added Dr. Motsepe.
Motsepe said the 2027 Cup of Nations to be hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will go ahead as planned and that the following edition — originally scheduled for 2029 — will be moved forward to take place in 2028. The next AFCON after that will be in 2032, when the tournament adopts a four-year cycle.
The President of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), Gianni Infantino has asked African football leaders to continue to be united inorder to have strong Football future.
Infantino said this on Monday during the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) held in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
“I’m asking all to be united – to continue to unite Africa, to continue to unite African Football, because like this you have a strong voice all over the world for a bright future,” said the World Football President.
He also highlighted that FIFA has invested more than US$1.2 billion in Africa in recent years, where they have funded projects aimed at improving infrastructure and nurturing young players among others.
Infantino called upon the 130 African delegates in the different FIFA Committees to make their voices heard because this will have a bigger impact in the long run.
On his part, CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe thanked all the 54 Members Associations of CAF for the extensive work they continue doing to improve Football in the continent.
He also thanked Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for hosting a successful 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN). “It was important for CHAN to go to East Africa because we have learnt from some of the things we can do better,” he added.
Dr. Motsepe also revealed that CAF will organize a big Conference in Morocco on December 20th, 2025 a day before the start of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.
“On December 20, we will host a big event in Morocco. We’ll bring together investors, partners, and key stakeholders to share ideas. We need their support to help all nations and clubs continue to grow. They must support football in Africa for both boys and girls. It will be a big success,” he added.
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe has commended the CECAFA Zone for successfully hosting the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania hosted the CHAN tournament from August 2-30th. All the three CECAFA members that hosted reached the quarter final stage.
Dr. Motsepe said this on October 4th while meeting leaders from the CECAFA Zone in Kinsasha, DR Congo ahead of the CAF Ordinary General Assembly.
He credited the tournament for reviving football in East Africa and brought closer collaboration between Governments, Sponsors and the football supporters.
The CECAFA leadership was led by Acting President, Alexandre Muyenge, who is also the President of the Burundi Football body.
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will meet Presidents from the Council of East and central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) on Saturday in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the CAF President kick started the meetings with the CAF Zonal Unions on Friday with UNIFFAC and COSAFA.
The Zonal Union meetings will precede the 47th CAF Ordinary General Assembly slated for October 6th in Kinshasa.
Alexandre Muyenge, the CECAFA Acting President, and President of the Burundi FA will lead the Presidents from the CECAFA Zone at the meeting.
The meetings organized by CAF form an integral part of CAF’s ongoing commitment to strengthen collaboration and development across all regions of the continent.
“Dr. Motsepe’s participation underlines CAF’s dedication to engaging directly with Member Associations through their regional structures, addressing opportunities and challenges in the collective effort to accelerate the growth of African football,” says CAF.
The CECAFA Zone is composed of Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan and Zanzibar.
-
CAF African Nations Championship1 year agoAfrican Nations Championship 2025 dates announced
-
CAF Champions League3 months agoYoung Africans draw Al Ahly for CAF Champions League group stage
-
CECAFA11 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
CAF African Nations Championship5 months agoCHAN 2024: Kenya lead group, to face Madagascar in quarter final stage
-
FIFA WOrld Cup Qualifiers5 months agoUganda win, Tanzania pick late draw in FIFA World Cup qualifiers
-
FIFA U-17 World Cup 20252 months agoUganda ejects Senegal to storm FIFA U-17 World Cup round of 16
-
NEWS4 years agoYoung Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
-
Top stories6 years agoWe need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino