Football - Mali: U17 World Cup bonuses in thin air?

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Qualifiés et auteurs d’un parcours honorable à la Coupe du Monde U17 avec une élimination en huitièmes de finale, les jeunes maliens n’ont toujours pas reçu l’intégralité des primes attendues. Un énième scandale qui illustre une opacité caractéristique entre fédération, ministère des Sports et l’absence de traçabilité de l’argent lors des compétitions internationales.

Mali's Eaglets fought hard and qualified for the U17 World Cup with a elimination in the eighth finals, the young Malians have still not received all the expected bonuses. An umpteenth scandal that illustrates a characteristic opacity between the federation, the Ministry of Sports and the lack of traceability of money during international competitions.

Its latest financial audit for its lack of information and transparency, the Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) is mired in a new affair where much dust has been raised.

For its qualification at the U17 World Cup, the Malian State, through the Ministry of Sports, had disbursed a sum intended for the players and staff (8 million CFA francs, just over 12,000 euros). However, this money did not follow a classic path since it was given to the coach, Adama Diéfla Diallo, and a person mandated by the Ministry of Sports.

Issues already noted during the U17 AFCON
According to our information, the file took a thorny turn when the players realized that the payments had not been made; a player wishing to send money to his family with the bonus could not have done so.

Seeing that the situation could deteriorate as the team was doing well on the field (second in the group, victory against Zambia in the last 16), the coach gave a part of the promised bonuses. Problem: several members of the selection confirmed to Sport News Africa that they had not received the full amount.

The other concern comes from the lack of regulation and professionalism: at what point did the money have to go through the coach? Ordinarily, a classic procedure is carried out with people who are only assigned for this type of mission at FEMAFOOT and the Ministry of Sports. And as often in Malian football, no one wishes to shed light on financial matters...