Governing Bodies
Another South African obstacle for Nigeria as Rivers Angels draw CAF president’s club in CAF Women’s League
Barely a week after South Africa’s women’s team, Bayana Bayana beat the Super Falcons 4-2 at home in what has become the team’s biggest home defeat, another South African hurdle awaits Nigeria in women’s football.
The reigning Nigerian Women’s Premier League champions, Rivers Angels have been drawn to face the South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the group stage of the Caf Women’s Champions League.
The Mamelodi Sundowns team is the women’s squad of the club owned by CAF president, Patrice Motsepe.
Also drawn in the group are ASFAR Club of Morocco and Kenya’s Vihiga Queens FC in Group B.
The draw ceremony which served up plenty of interesting match-ups took place on Wednesday at the CAF headquarters in 6 October City which is a satellite town to Cairo
The ceremony was conducted by CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu. He was assisted by another Nigerian, African football great Perpetua Nkwocha and Egypt women’s national team star Alia Zenouki.
Hosts Wadi Degla FC will have their hands full when they take on Mali’s AS Mande, Ghana’s Hasaacas Ladies and Equatorial Guinean side Malabo Kings FC in Group A.
Wadi Degla and AS Mande will kick off the series on November 5 at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
Patrice Motsepe owned Mamelodi Sundowns Queens will set Group B alive when they tackle their Kenyan opponents the following day at the Cairo Military Academy Stadium.
Reacting to the draw, Zenouki – who is the captain of Wadi – stated that her team’s group would be very competitive, however, she is keen on seeing her club emerge as champions.
“I think all of the teams are so good. They have won their domestic league and their respective qualifiers for this tournament,” she said.
“So, I think it will be so competitive and I can’t wait to play and see how the game goes. We will do our best to keep the cup in Egypt.”
Four-time African Women’s Player of the Year Nkwocha described all the teams in Group B as ‘good’ but sees her former team Rivers Angels and Mamelodi Sundowns making it to the knock-out stage.
“I think that group it’s gonna be tough because all the teams that have qualified are good teams,” the former Sunnana SK disclosed.
“However, I believe in Rivers Angels because I have seen them play in [in recent times]. I feel Rivers Angels and Mamelodi Sundowns will come out of the group.”
The 2021 CAF Women’s Champions League takes place from November 5 to 19.
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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