The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, is set to leave the chairmanship of CAF’s finance committee, according to several Moroccan media outlets. He retains his post as first vice-president of the continental body.
Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF and first vice-president of CAF, is set to leave the chairmanship of the continental confederation’s finance committee. The news, reported by Moroccan outlets Nichan.ma and Le12.ma, was expanded on by Alalam24.press.ma: the official does indeed keep his post as first vice-president.
The move comes as his responsibilities have multiplied, between an expanded ministerial portfolio and his duties within the body led by CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
An expanded ministerial portfolio
According to Jeune Afrique, relayed by Nichan.ma, the decision follows the expanded ministerial portfolio recently entrusted to Fouzi Lekjaa, covering the economy, finance and administrative reform. His duties linked to organising the 2030 World Cup also come into play, according to the same source.
The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, a project whose preparation is among Fouzi Lekjaa’s responsibilities.
He had chaired CAF’s finance committee since May 2017, under the presidency of Ahmad Ahmad. He will therefore have held its reins for more than nine years.
No link to Motsepe, according to his entourage
Sources close to Lekjaa deny any direct link to possible tensions with Patrice Motsepe, Nichan.ma reports. According to this entourage, the departure would not be a symptom of a rupture at the top of the confederation.
According to Le12.ma, Fouzi Lekjaa helped rationalise spending and strengthen CAF’s resources during his tenure. This is an assessment put forward by that Moroccan outlet.
A CAF in the midst of reform
The confederation is going through a phase of transformation: an Africa Cup of Nations every two years in October, a new secretary general, preparations for an African Nations League and the FIFA presidential election in March, Nichan.ma lists.
It is in this context that the finance committee changes chairmanship. Fouzi Lekjaa’s successor in the post is not identified in the available information.