Ahmed Yahya will most likely be ousted from the FIFA Council soon as pressure is mounting from several federation presidents against the “deal” arranged by Fouzi Lekjaa in Mauritania on February 25.
What was initially touted as the launch of the Talents Academy, the event has instead been embroiled in controversy over its pre-determination of key African representatives in the FIFA Council.
A Widening Rift in African Football
Tempers are fraying at CAF, and African football is seemingly split into two factions. North African nations wish to consolidate their stranglehold on power while Southern African nations are fighting back, demanding fair representation free of political intrigue.
At the center of this controversy is the Nouakchott Protocol, which under the provisions of an unwritten pact, allotted four of Africa’s seven FIFA Council spots.
The early declarations of Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa, Egypt’s Hani Abou Rida, and Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya—joined by Ivorian Idriss Diallo—have angered other African federations, who perceive the move as an attempt to relegate Black African candidates to the sidelines.
FIFA’s Intervention and a Possible Rebalancing
As a result of the furore, FIFA is considering stepping in to prevent a further divide. Two options have been discussed:
1. Nullifying the Nouakchott Protocol – FIFA can nullify the agreement to allow a freer choice process.
2. Rebalancing Representation – For the sake of fairness, FIFA could encourage greater balance between the bidding blocs so that neither North nor Sub-Saharan Africa dominates.
Will Ahmed Yahya Be the Scapegoat?
Amid growing calls for change, FIFA is set to remove one Arab representative from the equation. There is speculation that Ahmed Yahya, president of the Mauritanian Football Federation (FFRIM), is the one to be sacrificed in an attempt to restore balance.
To the majority of African federation heads, this move is necessary to align African football with modern football management so that the leadership of Africa would reflect its diversity and innovativeness.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe will make the final decision, and a verdict is expected on Wednesday, March 12 in Cairo, Egypt.
