You’re fired!

Football: Heads have been rolling ever since South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe arrived at the CAF

By Alexis Billebault

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Posted on July 13, 2021 18:27

 © CAF president Patrice Motsepe speaks during a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 16 March 2021. AP Photo/Themba Hadebe/Sipa
CAF president Patrice Motsepe speaks during a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 16 March 2021. AP Photo/Themba Hadebe/Sipa

During the night of 24 to 25 May, some 15 Confederation of African Football (CAF) employees were informed by email that they had been let go. The recipients all received the same message, which was composed of a few very explicit, cryptic sentences. “Your mission at CAF is over. Don’t come to headquarters anymore. You will receive your salary for the month of June.”

Those who had turned off their phones had a brutal start to the day. “These appear to be unfair dismissals. There were no prior interviews, which is the law in Egypt, where CAF’s headquarters are located,” says the head of an African federation who wishes to remain anonymous.

“We knew that tensions had arisen ever since Motsepe was elected, that heads would roll, which is not surprising when new management arrives. What is surprising, however, is the method used.”

People close to Ahmad Ahmad have been targeted

The email targeted about 15 people, some of whom held strategic positions. For example, Marwa Hosam Eldin, the head of human resources, Nevine Tahseen Ibrahim, who was in charge of the finance department and had worked at CAF for 23 years, Mohamed Salem, the director of information and technology, and Achta Mahamat Saleh, the legal director.

Abdel Bah, the former interim

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