FIFA Takes Over CAF Amidst Corruption Investigation

On Thursday, the eve of the kickoff of the African Cup of Nations, corruption investigation against the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Ahmad Ahmad, the body's executive committee had requested FIFA's intervention in its administrative processes.

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura would now be designated general delegate for Africa and would work with Ahmad as well as a team of experts to, among other things, oversee a forensic audit of CAF. Ahmad ended by reassuring the media that there was "no one better than FIFA to help".

Samoura would begin working with CAF on August 1 and continue till January 31 next year. Then, the statement added, there would be the option to extend her stewardship at the discretion of both CAF and FIFA.

The Secretary General would "help to conclusively accelerate the implementation of the ongoing reform process destined to ensure that CAF functions with transparency, efficiency while abiding to the highest governance standards".

Ahmad is currently under investigation by FIFA's ethics committee and has been in the eye of the storm over allegations of corruption, financial misappropriation and sexual harassment.

Earlier this month, he was detained by the French police for questioning over allegations of corruption, but was released without charge.