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Callisto Pasuwa

ZIFA have been given more time to look for a substantive coach for the Warriors after the next round of the CAF Nations Cup 2019 qualifiers were moved from March to October next year. The association also have more time to also regularise the citizenship of a number of players, who hold foreign citizenship, who now want to play for the Warriors. ZIFA have been battling to get a substantive coach since parting ways with Callisto Pasuwa earlier this year.

However, The Herald has been told that Pasuwa could bounce back after he impressed the ZIFA leadership with the way he has handled himself since that divorce. “Callisto could bounce back because he has handled himself in a very professional way and that has impressed many of us,’’ a ZIFA official told this newspaper. “His conduct during the preparations and the game in which the Warriors Legends took on their Barcelona counterparts was excellent.

“There were some people who thought he would turn down the invitation but not only did he come, he also was very professional throughout the whole period and that was a plus sign. “He is a good coach and has a lot of support in the country and that could work in his favour.’’ CAF agreed to move next year’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers to October to allow the continent’s World Cup finalists to play friendlies in March. Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco are the five African teams qualified for Russia 2018.

“African teams to the World Cup will now have the March 2018 Fifa international days for friendly games after the Caf executive committee approved a proposal by Nigeria for 2019 Afcon qualifiers fixed for that period moved to October 2018,” said Super Eagles spokesman Toyin Ibitoye. “The 2019 Afcon will now be played in June 2019 as against January when the match schedule was announced so there is more time now for the 2019 Afcon qualifiers to be concluded.’’

Ibitoye said Nigeria, which would have played Seychelles in March 2018, now plan two friendlies in that period to prepare for the World Cup. They are likely to play the Warriors. Meanwhile, Amr Fahmy was appointed as the new general secretary of the CAF, keeping up a family tradition that stretches across three generations. The 34-year-old Egyptian replaces Hicham El Amrani of Morocco, who resigned just weeks after long-standing president Issa Hayatou of Cameroon was ousted in a surprise election defeat to Ahmad of Madagascar in March.

Fahmy’s grandfather Mourad served as general secretary of African football’s governing body from 1961-82, after which he was replaced by his son Mustapha, who held the post until 2010 before moving to Zurich as the director of competitions at Fifa.

Amr Fahmy will be assisted by former Ghana international Tony Baffoe, who has been appointed deputy general secretary in charge of development and competitions, while Essadik Alaoui of Morocco had also been appointed deputy general secretary in charge of administration and finance, a CAF statement said. — Sports Reporter/SuperSport