The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) have come together to support each other’s candidates for a position on the FIFA Council, strengthening their solidarity within the African football community.
In a joint statement, COSAFA President Said Ali Said Athouman and CECAFA President Wallace Karia announced that both regions would support the sole candidates from their respective zones for the FIFA Council election. From COSAFA, the candidate is Andrew Kamanga, the president of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), who is vying for one of five spots allocated to CAF members on the FIFA Council. On the other hand, Souleiman Hassan Waberi, the president of the Djibouti Football Federation (DFF), is the sole candidate from CECAFA.
This collaboration between COSAFA and CECAFA, which consists of 14 and 11 CAF member associations respectively, reflects the two regions’ shared commitment to bolstering African representation on the global football stage. The joint backing of both Kamanga and Waberi is aimed at enhancing Africa’s visibility and influence within the international football arena.
Both candidates have been declared eligible to stand by FIFA’s Review Committee, confirming their place on the ballot. As the election approaches, the support from COSAFA and CECAFA signals a unified front, with the two regions emphasizing the importance of having strong African representation on the FIFA Council, which plays a crucial role in shaping global football policy and governance.
Kamanga’s candidacy comes at a time when Africa’s visibility on the FIFA Council is seen as critical to ensuring that the continent’s interests are adequately represented. The backing of both COSAFA and CECAFA could prove pivotal in his bid to secure a seat on the council. Similarly, Waberi’s candidacy adds another layer of unity between the two football zones, underlining the collective effort to ensure that Africa’s voice is heard on the global stage.
As the election unfolds, all eyes will be on the outcome of this strategic partnership between COSAFA and CECAFA, which marks an important moment in African football governance.
