International Football

CAF Expands Exco; Prunes Committees

Published

7 years ago

July 21, 2017

The CAF Congress on Friday in Rabat, Morocco put a seal on a number of changes proposed at a two – day symposium on African Football and which the Executive Committee approved on Thursday.
The symposium that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday at the International Conference Centre in Skhirat, outside Rabat crystallized a plethora of ideas for the African game going forward, including a 24 –nation Africa Cup of Nations finals, expansion of the youth competitions from the current eight –team finals, moving the AFCON to June/July and a more inclusive CAF alive to, and abreast with, the dictates of new realities.
On Friday, at the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly at the Hotel Sofitel and Resorts in Rabat, CAF President, Ahmad called on the African football family to unite and approach the future with determination and conviction, and to afford CAF full support in “this vast project of change.”
He also indicated that the new administration would always insist on global best practice in service, attitude and application, and in evaluating the preparedness of host nations for CAF championships.
CAF 1st Vice President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, who is Chairman of the Statutes Amendment Committee, rolled out the amendments to the Statutes, which was the major business of the day, while revealing that the Executive Committee approved the introduction of a third vice president, the expansion of the Executive Committee from 16 to 23 members, the abolition of the practice of persons wearing multiple hats and the reduction in the number of standing committees from 20 to 11.
“Henceforth, the CAF Executive Committee will comprise of a President, 13 members, one woman, the six members of the FIFA Council (apart from the CAF President) and two co-opted members.
The co-opted members, at the pleasure of the President, will also enjoy the same rights (including voting right) as the elected members, just as the FIFA Council members.
“Persons can decide to either be in the FIFA Council or the CAF Executive Committee, but cannot be in both, except for the CAF President who is automatically a FIFA Vice President. The FIFA Council will be decided this way: two from the Francophone bloc, two from the Anglophone bloc, two from the Portuguese/Arabic/Spanish bloc and 1 woman, who can come from any of the blocs. However, the bloc that produces the CAF President can only produce one more person.”
Nyantakyi also declared that the eligibility checks would now be extended to persons vying for CAF Executive Committee membership, and not only those vying for the FIFA Council.
The position of CAF’s head of administration will now be known as General Secretary, instead of Secretary General. The standing committees have now been pruned to 11.

International Football

BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray

Published

6 days ago

September 3, 2024

Kunle Solaja

At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.

He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m

He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.

The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.

International Football

Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday

Published

6 days ago

September 3, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.

The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.

“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.

“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.

“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.

Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.

Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.

“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.

“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.

“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”

Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

-Reuters

International Football

Quitting Portugal never crossed my mind, says Ronaldo

Published

6 days ago

September 3, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo dismissed suggestions he had considered ending his international career in the near future, adding that post-Euro criticism did not worry him.

Portugal host Croatia in their Nations League opener on Thursday before welcoming Scotland in League A Group One on Sunday.

“That’s all from the press. It never crossed my mind that my cycle (with Portugal) had come to an end. Quite the opposite: it gave me even more motivation to continue to be honest,” Ronaldo told a press conference on Monday.

“The motivation is to come to the national team to win the Nations League … We’ve already won it once and we want to do it again. I might say the same thing over and over again, but I don’t think long term, it’s always short term.”

Ronaldo captained Portugal to success in the opening edition of the Nations League in 2018-19, three years after they became European Champions for the first time in France.

“Until the end of my career, I will always have the mindset that I will be a starter,” Ronaldo added.

“What I feel at the moment, and the coach’s (Roberto Martinez) words also demonstrate this, is that I continue to be an asset to the national team and I will be the first (to admit it) if that isn’t the case.

“When I’m (no longer) an asset I will be the first to leave. But I will go with a clear conscience, as always, because I know who I am, what I can do, what I do and what I will continue to do.”

The 39-year-old appeared untroubled by criticism he faced for failing to score at the 2024 European Championship.

“Criticism is great because if it doesn’t exist there’s no progress. It’s always been like this. Is it going to change now? It won’t,” Ronaldo said.

“So I try to follow my path, be as professional as possible, help in the best way possible with my professionalism and not just with goals, assists, discipline, and example, because football is much more than just playing well or scoring a goal.

“The people who give their opinions have never been in a locker room, and I often laugh because it’s the same thing as me talking about Formula 1.

“How can I give my opinion on Formula 1 if I don’t know anything about tires, rims or the weight of the car … It’s normal and that’s why for me criticism is good and part of it, it’s no problem at all.”

-Reuters