Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe is set to meet with officials from the North African Football Union (UNAF) in Cairo following growing tensions over the future of the regional body’s executive director, Mahmoud Hammami.
Tensions over leadership at UNAF
The dispute stems from a job listing published by CAF for the position of UNAF executive director, an act widely interpreted as an attempt to replace Hammami.
The move has been attributed to Sahra Mukuna, CAF’s Director of Member Associations, who reportedly sought to facilitate Hammami’s retirement.
However, this decision has sparked strong opposition within UNAF.
During its most recent meeting in Algiers, the UNAF Executive Board unanimously backed Hammami, rejecting any attempts to remove him from office.
The regional body formally expressed its discontent with CAF’s handling of the matter and directly addressed its concerns to President Motsepe.
UNAF’s response and request for dialogue
UNAF has taken a firm stance against what it perceives as interference in its leadership affairs.
In a letter to Motsepe, the organization condemned Mukuna’s actions and reiterated its support for Hammami.
The North African football body also formally requested a meeting with the CAF president to resolve the issue.
Motsepe has responded by agreeing to meet with UNAF officials in Cairo, where discussions are expected to focus on governance issues and the future of the regional body’s leadership.
A key meeting to address growing tensions
The upcoming meeting is viewed as a critical moment for CAF-UNAF relations.
UNAF, which represents the football federations of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia, plays a significant role in African football governance.
A breakdown in relations between UNAF and CAF could have broader implications for continental football administration.
While CAF has not publicly commented on the controversy, Motsepe’s decision to grant an audience to UNAF officials suggests an acknowledgment of the seriousness of the situation.
The outcome of the talks could determine whether Hammami retains his position or if CAF moves forward with its plans to appoint a new executive director.
As the meeting approaches, all eyes will be on Cairo to see if a compromise can be reached or if tensions between the two football bodies will escalate further.
