Guinea: complaint of embezzlement filed against president Sampil

The storm continues to rage around Aboubacar Sampil. A day after the publication of our investigation detailing the possible diversion of more than 66% of orders for equipment intended for the national teams to AS Kaloum, the club he owns, a fresh complaint has further complicated his situation.

Read also: Guinea: Syli National equipment diverted to benefit the club of the FEGUIFOOT president?

Kaloum Football Club (KFC), through its general secretary, Alama Camara, has referred the matter to the FEGUIFOOT Ethics Committee. According to the complaint, a copy of which we have obtained, Sampil allegedly abused his dual role as president of the federation and owner of AS Kaloum to divert resources intended for national football to his own advantage.

Conflict of interest and breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics

In his submission, Alama Camara stresses that these actions amount to a serious breach of the ethical principles of international football. He cites in particular article 14 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which requires officials to carry out their duties with due diligence, especially on financial matters.

"By unlawfully allocating the federation's funds, resources or opportunities to equip his own club, Mr Sampil is committing a criminal offence and an act of sporting corruption," says the complainant, who also cites articles 26 and 29 in support of the allegations of abuse of power and embezzlement of funds.

Other figures in Guinean football are joining this revolt and are considering taking the matter to CAF and FIFA.

An explosive climate at the Federation

This latest case comes amid an already tense atmosphere within the FEGUIFOOT executive committee, where Sampil is increasingly isolated. His management style, seen as a one-man approach, and the accusations of poor governance are fuelling the tension.

Faced with this crisis, which is also sporting given the national team's results that all but doom the Sily National to elimination from World Cup qualifying, the federation's general assembly, originally scheduled for 4 April and postponed to 8 May, looks set to be highly charged.

While some justify the postponement by the unavailability of the financial statements, others behind the scenes believe Sampil wanted to avoid a stormy debate given the crisis.

"He hoped to restore his image with the Syli's latest matches, but the results only made the situation worse," a member of the executive committee confides. "Today, several officials want him gone and intend to use this assembly to push him out."

Repeated complaints

This is not the first time 'Bouba' Sampil has found himself under scrutiny. Mohamed Diawara, president of the FEGUIFOOT Ethics Committee, had already accused him of obstructing an investigation into sexual abuse of minors at the Nongo academy.

In September 2024, five of the seven members of the executive committee, including two vice-presidents, also filed a complaint against him for opaque management and breach of internal rules. They pointed in particular to his poor management, unilateral decisions in breach of the statutes, failure to hold extraordinary assemblies, and interference in the running of the Guinean Professional Football League (LGFP), among other things. Not to mention another case involving match-fixing.

With this new case, the net is tightening around Sampil, whose hold on the FEGUIFOOT presidency looks increasingly in jeopardy despite the unwavering support he has had so far from Gelson Fernandes, FIFA's regional director for Africa.

By Facely KONATÉ and Romain MOLINA