The Djibouti Football Federation has become embroiled in a major corruption controversy after a government audit accused the leadership of favoritism and inadequate competitive bidding regarding millions in financial grants, Al Jazeera and AFP reported on Friday. The tiny Horn of Africa nation, heavily dependent on global sports funding, faces intense domestic backlash following the release of the findings.
FIFA and the Confederation of African Football provide more than one million dollars annually to support football development in Djibouti, which is currently ranked one hundred ninety-sixth in the global rankings. However, a government inspector`s report obtained by AFP revealed serious allegations concerning the misuse of funds, including monies provided by Saudi Arabia for the construction of a new federation headquarters. The audit highlights severe overpricing and preferential treatment in awarding infrastructure contracts.
Growing outrage among local clubs and players has pushed the crisis to a boiling point, with anonymous club managers threatening to boycott upcoming league matches unless a complete leadership overhaul takes place. Discontent also reached the federation`s inner circle when executive committee member Mohamed Elmi Farah resigned on August twelfth, citing grave concerns over the management and utilization of resources.
Souleiman Hassan Waberi, the long-standing head of the federation who also serves on the FIFA Council, strongly denied any wrongdoing when questioned by reporters. Waberi maintained that FIFA monitoring mechanisms have officially cleared the organization of financial misconduct, though he acknowledged minor shortcomings regarding competitive bidding procedures for certain operations due to local supply constraints.
Neither FIFA nor CAF immediately responded to official queries regarding the audit findings, leaving the governing bodies under renewed scrutiny over financial oversight. As transparency concerns mount in a nation governed under long-standing political leadership, local football stakeholders continue to demand structural reforms to ensure that international development funds directly benefit the sport on the ground.
