Three Nigerians in CAF’s Think-Tank for Club competitions

In yet another marker of the growing influence and visibility of Nigeria in global football administration, three Nigerians are members of a 14 –man Think-Tank put together by CAF to brainstorm over two days on ideas and strategies to rebrand the continent’s club competitions from both technical and commercial perspectives.

To this end, a two –day intensive workshop on how best to improve the fortunes of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will hold at the African football –ruling body’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Monday and Tuesday this week.


The workshop, which will be declared open by CAF General Secretary, Amr Fahmy on Monday morning, will provide part of the substance for the meeting of the CAF Inter-Club Competitions and Club Licensing Committee holding on Wednesday at the same venue.

Nigeria’s Shehu Dikko (NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman), Salihu Abubakar (LMC chief operating officer) and Christian Emeruwa (FIFA Security Officer/NFF Integrity Officer) will be part of the Think-Tank workshop. Dikko, who is a member of the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee, is also a member of the Inter-Club Competitions and Club Licensing Committee that will convene on Wednesday to consider the report of the Think-Tank panel.

Anthony Baffoe, who won a Cup of Nations silver medal with Ghana’s Black Stars 25 years ago and was recently appointed CAF’s Deputy Secretary General (Development and Competitions), will speak on ‘Draws Concept and Draw Ambassador; Seminars and Workshops for Clubs; Pre-Match Ceremony and; Job Tasks of the General Coordinator’ as well as ‘Stadiums: Pitches,’ while Emeruwa, who holds a doctorate degree in sports administration, will speak on ‘Security of Stadiums.’

On Tuesday, CAF scribe Fahmy will dwell on ‘Rebranding of Inter-Club Competitions; Sponsors; Introduction of CAF Inter-Club Competitions in Computer Games and Attractiveness of CAF Inter-Club Competitions,’ among others.

Also to speak at the two –day seminar are CAF’s Junior Binyam, Khaled Nassar, Ahmed Harraz and Sarah El Gazzar. There will also be Carlo Nohra (former AFC Director of Competitions), Khaled Lemkecher (FIFA/CAF General Coordinator and CAF Club Licensing Instructor) as well as Abdel Bah, Christophe Van Rothem and Maxime Lebessou from Lagardère Sport.

On the agenda of Wednesday’s meeting of the Inter-Clubs Competitions and Club Licensing Committee is consideration of the new format of Inter-Club competitions, as recommended by the Think-Tank.

Wednesday’s meeting will also consider CAF’s proposal of taking over the organization of the semi finals and finals of the inter-club competitions; proposal of appointing media and security officers for matches as from the group stage; dates of the 2018 season and suggestions for new dates for the competitions as from 2018-2019 season and; modifications of inter-clubs regulations.

Club licensing spot-checks and stadium inspection visits; collaboration between CAF, FIFA and sister confederations and; update on MA’s completion of the legal basis requirements of club licensing are also on the agenda.