COSAFA and CECAFA unite to support Kamanga and Waberi's FIFA Council candidatures
COSAFA and CECAFA have joined forces to back each other’s candidates for a seat on the FIFA Council, signalling a united front in African football governance. Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga and Djibouti’s Souleiman Hassan Waberi are the sole nominees from their respective zones, with both receiving FIFA’s approval to contest. Their joint endorsement strengthens their bids ahead of the upcoming CAF General Assembly elections
The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) have come together to support each other's single candidate for a seat on the FIFA Council, as seen in a release dated February 4, 2025.
"The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) have resolved, in consultation with their Member Associations, to support each other's single candidate for a place on the FIFA Council," read the statement in part.
More To Read
This decision follows consultations with their member associations and reflects a united approach to strengthening Africa's football representation on the global stage.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President Mr. Andrew Kamanga is the sole candidate from the COSAFA Zonal Union for one of the five places available to CAF members on the FIFA Council. On the other hand, Mr. Souleiman Hassan Waberi, President of the Djibouti Football Federation (DFF), is the only candidate from the CECAFA Zonal Union.
In an unprecedented move, the two zones have resolved to jointly support the election of both candidates, demonstrating solidarity across regional football associations.
"That being the case, the two zones have resolved to jointly support the election of the two candidates for the FIFA Council in a show of solidarity. COSAFA is made up of 14 CAF member associations, and CECAFA has 11," the statement reads in part.
COSAFA comprises 14 CAF member associations: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, while CECAFA consists of 11: Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Both Mr. Kamanga and Mr. Waberi have been declared eligible to stand for election by FIFA's Review Committee, paving the way for their candidatures to proceed.
The support from COSAFA and CECAFA is a significant endorsement that will likely play a pivotal role in the upcoming election, as both candidates now have the backing of two major football regions within Africa.
Although no specific dates have been issued for the elections, the elections for the FIFA Council, where both Mr. Andrew Kamanga and Mr. Souleiman Hassan Waberi are candidates, are expected to take place during the next CAF General Assembly. Usually, CAF holds this assembly before the start of major continental tournaments or during its regular meetings.
Top Stories Today
