Soumaila Coulibaly Eyeing for Mali FA Presidency

Former Mali national team captain Soumaila Coulibaly is fast emerging as a top contender for Mali Football Association (Femafoot)’s top job.

According to a well-placed source, Coulibaly has the support of several current and past football officials who are in one way or another disgruntled by divisions that have threatened Femafoot and Malian football since 2012.

Mali football has been under a normalisation committee that was appointed by World’s football governing body FIFA in 2017 and is expected to complete its mandate by conducting elections of a new federation executive committee by 29 August.

In a recent interview with a section of Malian press, Coulibaly stated that he is still weighing the options though he pointed that if he is to run, his actions would essentially be centred around the development of football in the country.

The former Zamalek attacking midfielder said he will uplift and give a special status to female football in Mali from grassroots levels to the national team.

Coulibaly has also pointed out a set of projects in terms of infrastructural development if he intends to embark on if elected, including also reinforcing football and studies for youths at the grassroots levels.

Soumaila Coulibaly will have as contenders Mamoutou Toure dit Bavieux, Mamadou Makadji and Allassane Souleymane.