26/04/2025 03:45
Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku is set to be appointed as one of CAFs new Vice-Presidents as the continental body moves to restructure its leadership following last months divisive elections.Okrakus imminent elevation comes as CAF President Patrice Motsepe seeks to fill vacant Vice-President positions and restore unity within African football after a bitterly contested FIFA Council election. The appointments are expected to be ratified today during a CAF Executive Committee meeting in Accra.The reshuffle has become necessary after four of CAFs five previous Vice-Presidents left their roles. Augustin Senghor of Senegal resigned in protest, accusing Morocco of dominating CAFs internal politics. Meanwhile, Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania), Waberi Souleiman (Djibouti) and Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros) all secured seats on FIFAs top governing body, thus vacating their CAF Vice-Presidencies. Cameroons Seidou Mbombo Njoya, who was Fourth Vice-President, was also ousted after being dropped by his national association.Okrakus expected appointment is particularly significant for Ghana and Anglophone Africa following the sharp decline in influence of traditional powerhouses like Nigeria, whose candidate Amaju Pinnick failed to retain his FIFA Council seat.With Ghana now the only Anglophone giant maintaining a foothold at CAFs top table, Okrakus role will be critical in ensuring balanced representation in African football's highest structures.Motsepes new list of Vice-Presidents is carefully constructed to pacify growing tensions after the elections, which saw Morocco-aligned candidates dominate proceedings. Other nominees alongside Okraku include Mustapha Ishola Raji (Liberia), Kossi Gbezonde Akpovy (Togo), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Mohamed Samir Sobha (Mauritius), Walter Nyamilandu Manda (Malawi), Samuel Etoo (Cameroon), Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon) and Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (DR Congo) for the womens seat.The selections aim to restore a delicate regional and linguistic balance within CAFs leadership especially among Anglophone and Francophone federations who expressed frustration after the elections tilted heavily toward North African influence.For Okraku, the appointment caps a steady rise through the ranks of African football governance since his election as GFA President in 2019. He has also served on CAFs powerful Executive Committee since March.As CAF gears up for major projects, including preparations for the expanded FIFA World Cup and the next Africa Cup of Nations, Okrakus presence will be vital in championing Ghanaian and West African interests at the heart of decision-making.However, challenges lie ahead. Restoring cohesion within CAFs leadership and navigating the shifting political alliances across African football will test the new Vice-Presidents ability to work together.For now, Ghana can take pride in Okrakus continued ascent a symbol of resilience and ambition as the country seeks to maintain its standing at the top of African football.
