MOGADISHU, October 27, 2024 - The vice president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mr. Souleiman Hassan Waberi, has announced that he will run for a FIFA Council seat in the next election.

Mr. Waberi of Djibouti, made the announcement on Friday evening, saying his decision to run for the FIFA Council position came after suggestions from his colleagues in the east and central Africa region.

“After eight years of commitment to CAF including four years as vice president of CAF and on the recommendations of my CECAFA Zone, I have after careful consideration and consultations with my friends and colleagues, taken the decision to present my candidacy for a FIFA council seat during the next CAF elections slated for March 12, 2025,” Mr. Waberi said on Friday evening.

Mr. Waberi, who is one of the most experienced current-serving African football officials has lent a forceful commitment to the African football in general and particularly to that of CECAFA and his country where he served and held different positions in the last 30 years.

From 2012 to 2024 he served as the president of Djibouti Football Federation. During the period he also served in the council of east and central Africa football associations (CECAFA) before being elected as member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2017.

Currently the CECAFA region is not represented in the FIFA Council, but with Waberi’s announcement to run for the position gives the east Africa region a hope that someone from the region will sit on the FIFA Council after next year’s election as Mr. Waberi is termed as one of the most hopefuls and is expected to secure the seat.