Guinea football turmoil: Sampil ousted by Executive Committee

Photo Credit: Guinean Football Federation

The Guinean Football Federation (FEGUIFOOT) has dismissed president Aboubacar Sampil until the next general congress in May 2025. Guinean football has now further plunged into crisis after a seven member executive committee took the bold move to temporarily remove Sampil from power.

FIFA and the government of Guinea are said to be monitoring the situation, as they both warned the committee against holding a meeting and deciding on the fate of the president.

On 7 April, FIFA wrote a letter to FEGUIFOOT to wait for a FIFA task force to visit the country before moving forward. The government of Guinea also supported the move on 8 April, according to GuineeFoot. This prompted Sampil to cancel a FEGUIFOOT executive members meeting but the meeting was held without him and decided to suspend him until the next general congress.

The seven-member executive committee officially announced Sampil is dismissed after a series of dysfunctions occurred in the federation. The committee further added that a lack of transparency, failed internal and external communication, weakened governance, and incompatible financial practices contributed to Sampil’s dismissal.

According to Guineefoot, Sampil told local media that he will not back down from the decision and labeled it as illegal. “Any decision from this meeting is illegal, so I refuse to comply. We will go to CAS because everyone knows me. I am a tough guy,” said Sampil.

A FIFA mission delegation is expected to arrive in the coming days to try to see a way forward as a crisis continues to brew in Guinean football.