Hayatou ally, Benin FA boss Anjorin Moucharafou sent back to jail

Published on: 03 August 2013
Hayatou ally, Benin FA boss Anjorin Moucharafou sent back to jail
Anjorin Moucharafou

Benin FA president Anjorin Moucharafou, a strong ally of CAF President Issa Hayatou, has been re-arrested and sent to jail two days after he declined to run for a third term.

Moucharafou, who was recently elected as a member of the CAF Executive Committee, was summoned this week alongside the body’s Benin FA's accountant Cecile Houssou for the same charges.

Moucharafou recently decided to quit the Benin FA post was two years ago arraigned before a court for misappropriation of the federation's funds and remanded in custody at the Cotonou Civil Prison.

The businessman is accused of mishandling $650,000 (R6.5m) sponsorship money from mobile phone company MTN between 2008 and 2010.

Moucharafou, who enjoyed the backing of Fifa and Caf when Benin’s FA disintegrated into two parallel bodies following the departure of 12 of the 15 executive committee members, decided not to seek a third term in office to give peace a chance in the country’s football.

Benin Football Federation president Anjorin Moucharaf has resigned from his post moments before new elections within the body set for Tuesday July 30.

The embattled official said in a statement that he would not run for another term amid concerns that his candidacy would exacerbate the ongoing tension in the country’s football.

Re-elected in 2009, Moucharaf was imprisoned in 2010 for alleged mismanagement of funds while 12 of his 15 executive committee members pulled out to form a parallel Football Federation, which still exists.

Fifa and Caf had always thrown their support behind Moucharaf while the government’s position favoured the dissention.

Local editorialists say the withdrawal of Moucharaf could bring down the tension and open a new chapter in the country’s football.

Ghana FA chief Kwesi Nyantakyi beat Anjorin at an election to join the CAF executive committee two years ago.

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