Djibouti: president Waberi's extraordinary 2-month absence
Re-elected for a fourth term at the Djiboutian Football Federation in December, Souleiman Waberi is taking a 2-month absence.
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Amid the decline of a football scene whose domestic league matches take place at a dilapidated Municipal Stadium, with the stands closed and spectators forced to pay to stand behind a fence, Djiboutian Football Federation chief Souleiman Waberi issued an unusual internal memo on 14 January.
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"I will be on CECAFA and CAF business from 14/01/2025 to 14/03/2025.
During my absence, the 1st vice-president, Mr MOUHYADINE AHMED ALI, will take charge in accordance with article 43.1 of the FDF statutes."
The only African federation president to take an absence like this
A candidate for the FIFA Council, Waberi is the only African federation president to act this way. Under cover of CECAFA and CAF business—which missions, exactly?—everyone understood that the real purpose was his own campaign to be elected on 12 March 2025 to one of the five prestigious seats reserved for African officials.
Ironically, his absence will end two days after the vote and a few weeks after another humiliation for Djibouti's women's national team, beaten 10-0 in a friendly on 12 February.
For Waberi's opponents, who denounce his management and highly personal rule at the expense of genuine development of national football, the result is telling.