KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: The African football confederation has lost yet another secretary-general.
Moroccan Mouad Hajji, who took over only last April from sacked Amr Fahmy, suddenly submitted his resignation to CAF president Ahmad Ahmad. An emergency committee of the executive committee is being convened to make an interim appointment.
Fahmy, who died last month aged 36, was sacked after reporting Ahmad for the ethics committee of world federation FIFA over a range of allegations from financial abuse to sexual harassment of staff – all denied by the Madagascar official.
Earlier this year FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura ended a six-month stint trying to bring some adninistrative and financial sense to CAF. She infuriated many exco members by ending the tradition of no-questions-asked cash expenses; FIFA president Gianni Infantino upset them further by suggesting that the Nations Cup should be staged every four years not every two years as now.
Both Ahmad and Hajji have issued diplomatic statements of mutual admiration which, in the circumstances, will fool no-one who has been following the affairs of the chaotic confederation and its under-pressure president.
Ahmad expressed his gratitude to Hajji whose work, according to an official statement, “has been invaluable in driving the reforms of the institution as of African football since his appointment. He would like to salute a committed, loyal and above all passionate football player, and wish him all the success he deserves in the rest of his career.”
Hajji, a former director of top Moroccan club Raja Casablanca, said: “ I would like to warmly thank president Ahmad Ahmad for giving me the opportunity to serve the football of our continent at such a level of responsibility.
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“The numerous reforms initiated on the sports and administrative plans since 2017 continue a project in which I believe, and which I still support. I have no doubt that the President will continue to work for the good development of the most beautiful sport there is.”
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