The measure is expected to usher transparency and professionalism in African football.

The confederation of African football has taken a ground breaking decision that is expected to usher transparency and professionalism in African football by adopting the Fifa system of granting licenses to football clubs. A two day seminar to this effect took place in Cairo-Egypt on April 22^nd and 23^rd organized by Fifa in collaboration with CAF with representatives from 51 African football federations taking part. Fifa representatives and independent experts dwelled on the advantages of the new system, its implementation and role as an instrument of development.

 “We organized this seminar to raise awareness on the importance of the club license system and the benefits that this project can bring to football clubs. This system may become an essential tool for development of national football on the whole continent”, James Johnson, the Fifa official responsible for member associations is quoted as saying.

“All across Africa, federations have started implementing the new club licensing system. The entire continent hopes the enterprise will be a success,” said Riadh Bennour, member of the CAF organisation committee charged with managing licenses to clubs.

The Fifa club licensing system relies on six essential criteria namely, sports, personnel, administration, finances, infrastructure and legal status. The criteria are aimed at safeguarding the credibility and integrity of club competitions while improving on the level of professionalism in African football. The initiative is also aimed at transparency in finances and probity in the management of clubs. It is one of Fifa’s priorities for the period 2015/2018 and its implementation is supposed to be completed world wide by 2016.

In Africa, the measure will be implanted progressively from this year and every club engaged in the African champions league or Confederation Cup, will be required to furnish the license or meet up with a minimum list of items. It will be validated by the various federations and transmitted to CAF. It can be granted for one year or more and expires without notice at the end of the season or seasons for which it was delivered. The license can also be withdrawn within the period of validity by the football authorities concerned. The measure is welcomed in Cameroon where club presidents have been resisting reforms geared at transparency and professionalism.