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 Song’s appointment as CAR coach comes under fire

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• Rigobert-Song
• Rigobert-Song

 Former Cameroon cap­tain and coach, Rigobert Song, has been appoint­ed to take charge of the Cen­tral African Republic’s national team by the country’s sports ministry, a decision rejected by the football federation on Tuesday.

The 48-year-old Song, who played as a central defender for his country at four World Cups and then coached the Indomitable Lions at the finals in Qatar in 2022, met with the country’s president Faustin-Archange Touadera on Monday after which his appointment was announced by a government decree.

But the Central African Football Federation said it had learned “with dismay and sur­prise through social networks” of the decree and “was not consulted in the taking of this decision”.

It said it rejected the ap­pointment but “would like to avoid any action aimed at creating an unnecessary crisis between the ministry in charge of sports and the body in charge of management of Central Afri­can football”.

In several African countries, the government pays the salary of the national coach, giving them undue influence in the running of football matters.

Song succeeds Swiss coach Raoul Savoy, who was fired in October during their unsuc­cessful Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The Central African Repub­lic is, however, still involved in World Cup qualification and re­sumes their campaign in March with home matches against Madagascar and Mali.

They sit in fifth place in Group I with four points from four matches, five behind co-leaders Comoros and Ghana.

Song, whose club career took in spells at Liverpool, West Ham United, Racing Lens and Galatasaray, had a confronta­tion with Andre Onana during the last World Cup that led to the goalkeeper leaving the tour­nament in Qatar.—Reuters

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Kurt E.S Okraku elected CAF Executive Committee member

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The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has been successfully elected as a member of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The four-year term runs from 2025-2029.

The President, who was elected uncontested, joins the 24-member committee of the powerful body of the continent’s governing body.

Kurt Okraku’s election to the CAF Executive Committee comes as recognition of his remarkable leadership at the Football Association, where he has worked to rejuvenate Ghanaian football since taking office in 2019.

His efforts to enhance transparency, promote grassroots football, women’s football and focus on youth development have been well noted within the African football community.

With Ghana’s strong footballing tradition and legacy, the presence of the GFA boss on the CAF EXCO is seen as an opportunity to advance the interests of the country and help promote football development across Africa.

Mr. Okraku’s role will give Ghana a stronger voice in the decision-making processes that shape the future of football on the continent.

President Simeon-Okraku becomes the sixth Ghanaian to serve on the CAF Executive Committee in a list that includes Ohene Djan, Kobina Hagan, Nana Fredua Mensah, Samuel Okyere, and Kwesi Nyantakyi.

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GFA concludes training of Club Safety and Security Officers and Regional Sports Security Officers

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The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has successfully concluded its training program for Club Safety and Security Officers (CSSOs) and Regional Sports Security Officers (RSSOs).

 This comprehensive training, which took place from March 7 to March 10, 2025, aimed to throw more light on the enhance safety and security measures across Ghanaian football.

The training was conducted zonally, covering all 86 elite clubs and 16 regions. Participants were divided into three zones, with Zone 2 covering the Ashanti, Western, Western North, and Central Regions, and Zones 1 and 3 covering the remaining regions.

The training modules included:

Challenges of Safety and Security in Ghana: Identifying and addressing key safety and security concerns in Ghanaian football.

Roles of the Club Safety and Security Officer (CSSO) and collaboration with Regional Safety and Security Officers (RSSO): Defining the roles and responsibilities of CSSOs and RSSOs, and promoting effective collaboration between them.

Club Safety and Security Officer Checklist: Providing a comprehensive checklist for CSSOs to ensure that all safety and security protocols are in place.

Introduction to the Enhanced Safety and Security Protocols 2025: Introducing new safety and security protocols aimed at improving safety and security at match venues.

Practicum and scenario session: Providing hands-on training and scenario-based exercises to prepare participants for real-world safety and security challenges.

The training workshop was led by DCOP Lydia Donkor, Chairperson of the Security Committee. Others included Capt (Rtd) Nick Owusu, Vice Chairman of the Safety Committee, Julius Ben Emunah, Head of Competitions, John Ansah, Felix Bewu and Emmanuel Osei, members of the Safety and Security Committee.

This training is part of the GFA’s enhanced approach to ensuring improved safety and security at match venues across all competitions.

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Kurt Okraku, Mark Addo, Prosper Addo attend 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo

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President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has led a three-man Ghanaian delegation to the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt.

The President, who has arrived in Cairo, is being accompanied by Vice-President Mark Addo and General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo Esq.

The GFA boss will CAF chair Zonal meeting of WAFU B on Monday morning as part of several engagements lined up prior to the Extraordinary General Assembly, scheduled for Wednesday March 12.  In attendance will be CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe and General Secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba.

GFA Vice-President Mark Addo and General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo will also attend the zonal meeting.

After the CAF Zonal Union meetings, it will be followed by a friendly matches featuring CAF officials and African football legends this evening.

The CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) will hold a meeting to discuss progress and the future of African football on Tuesday March 11, 2025 before the Extraordinary General Assembly officially takes place  on Wednesday March 12, 2025, which will be concluded with an official press conference in the afternoon by CAF President, Dr. Motsepe.

Key African football leaders, including presidents of CAF’s 54 Member Associations and its six Zonal Unions, as well as senior international football stakeholders, are attending the three-day event, starting today March 10, 2025.

The 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly will be held in Cairo on Wednesday, 12 March 2025, at the Marriott Mena House.

The event will start at 10h00 Cairo Time (08h00 GMT).

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