On the sidelines of the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) made waves by pointing out the shortcomings within the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
This stance exerted significant pressure on CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who ultimately privately acknowledged his institution’s mistakes following the RS Berkane club affair in Morocco.
FAF President Walid Sadi strongly criticized CAF’s serious lapses, particularly during the CAF Cup semi-finals. The controversial decision to allow the jerseys of Renaissance de Berkane team, featuring political symbols, was particularly condemned by FAF, deeming it a breach of fair play principles and FIFA regulations.
In response to this pressure, Patrice Motsepe admitted CAF’s errors and pledged corrective measures. He also promised to align CAF regulations with FIFA’s starting from the next season, marking a significant initial step towards organizational reform.
FAF also advocated for a more significant Algerian representation within CAF’s bodies, highlighting the current absence of Algerians in the organization’s committees. Motsepe vowed to review this matter and incorporate Algerian expertise into various CAF commissions.
Furthermore, FAF achieved a tactical victory by challenging the appointment of Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho for the Algeria-Guinea match. FIFA’s swift reaction, replacing Atcho with Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema, demonstrates that FAF’s concerns are being taken seriously by international football authorities.
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