Bouba Sampil, President of Feguifoot, under investigation for match manipulation and abuse of power
The Guinean Football Federation (Feguifoot) is going through a new crisis. An ad hoc investigation committee, mandated by the Feguifoot ethics committee, is currently investigating Bouba Sampil, president of the federation, for accusations of match manipulation, influence peddling, abuse of power, conflicts of interest and non-compliance with the rules of good governance.
Multiple accusations and internal tensions
Since his election in January 2024, Bouba Sampil has been the subject of much criticism. Challenged for his management style and decisions perceived as authoritarian, he is accused by several collaborators of running the federation alone. This controversial management has caused a series of resignations, suspensions and internal conflicts, against the backdrop of an unresolved sexual abuse scandal at the Nongo academy.
Accusations of referee manipulation and conflicts of interest
On 1 July 2024, Sory Doumbouya, the vice-president in charge of youth football, filed an official report against Sampil. The document, available to Sport News Africa, highlights specific facts, including an alleged attempt to influence referees during a match between AS Kaloum (managed by Sampil) and Milo FC. The match was marked by violence, including a serious injury to a Milo player. Sampil is accused of publicly intervening, alongside ASK supporters, in an attempt to influence the refereeing body.
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Lack of transparency and unilateral management of Feguifoot
The accusations against Sampil are not limited to match manipulation. He is also accused of appointing coaches to the national team without consulting the executive committee, in violation of the statutes of Feguifoot. For example, the appointments of Pascal Balusakis and Désiré Focou as U20 and U17 coaches respectively were allegedly made unilaterally. Suspicions of opaque management of funds, an alleged refusal to convene monthly meetings of the executive committee, and the awarding of contracts without a call for tenders further aggravate the situation.
The response of the ethics committee and the wait for the conclusions
Faced with these accusations, Mohamed Diawara, president of the ethics committee, set up an ad hoc committee of four members in July to investigate. The results of this investigation are expected before the end of the year and will be decisive for the future of Sampil and the governance of Feguifoot.
Conclusion
The Guinean Football Federation finds itself in a deep governance crisis, with serious accusations of match manipulation and abuse of power targeting its president. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether disciplinary measures will be taken against Bouba Sampil, and could well redefine the future management of Feguifoot.
