- CS Ababu Namwamba met FIFA boss Infantino in Qatar
- Kenya has been under FIFA suspension since February
- Namwamba reinstated the Federation into office
There is hope that Kenya’s suspension from international football by FIFA will be lifted soon after Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba had a meeting with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino and CAF boss Patrice Motsepe in Qatar.
Kenya has been under FIFA suspension from February this year due to government interference after Namwamba’s predecessor Amina Mohamed disbanded the Football Kenya Federation last year under accusations of misappropriation of funds.
“Met in Doha today @FIFAcom President Gianni Infantino, General Secretary Fatma Samoura and @CAF_Online President Patrice Motsepe. I congratulate Qatar for superbly hosting the world’s most loved sporting event, and commend FIFA for making football truly global,” Ababu posted on his official Twitter feed.
FIFA council to work on Kenya’s suspension
The meeting will now put into speed action by FIFA’s council to lift Kenya’s suspension after the country fulfilled the requirement of having the ousted Federation back in office.
Namwamba had promised that his first task once he took charge of the ministry was to solve the football fiasco created by Amina.
On the first week, he met with the ousted Federation officials before meeting with coaches and chairmen of FKF Premier League clubs. After the series of meetings, Namwamba announced that the Federation would be back in office, minus president Nick Mwendwa who still has a pending case in court.
The same was communicated to FIFA and a decision is now expected.
Kenya’s problems with FIFA started in November last year when Amina disbanded the Federation after an inspection team she had picked from the Sports Registrar’s office accused them of misappropriation of funds.
She then created a Caretaker Committee, later morphing into a Transition Committee which ran the game for almost a year. The decision attracted a suspension from FIFA, with the work governing body terming the CS’s decision as government interference.
Amina hold hardline stance
Amina refused to budge to FIFA’s demands to have the Federation back in office, and totally refused to engage them in talks, which resulted in Kenya missing several important assignments.
The national women’s football team missed the last qualification match for the Women’s Cup of Nations while the senior men’s team missed out on qualification for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) as well as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Under-17, 20 and 23 teams have missed out on regional qualifications for the Cup of Nations in their respective age grades.
At the same time, Kenyan clubs have not been involved in continental championships.
ABabu has promised to help restore Kenya to a respectable position in continental football.
Meanwhile while in Doha, the Cabinet Secretary also met with Harambee Stars skipper Michael Olunga, where discussions were also made on pushing Kenya back to the world map.
Various leagues have meanwhile already kicked off, with the National Super League starting this weekend and the Women’s Premier League off to a start next weekend. The FKF Premier League is entering match week two this weekend.
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