Africa is far, very far from Europe

For the past few days, a good part of Africa has had its eyes riveted on the Homeric battle (in reference to the other Homer, Simpson) that the Egyptian pros Al Ahly (supporters, journalists and former players) are waging against Wydad Casablanca , the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and its president, Fouzi Lekjaa.

After the jeremiads against the designation of the Mohammed V complex to host the C1 final, the referees, the bad weather, the journalists, the price of gasoline in the world (that, I’m not sure, but hey …), the Egyptian press gives us a conspiracy theory, hatched by Morocco, Fouzi Lekjaa, and the Illuminati (that either, I’m not sure, but hey…).

According to the Egyptian daily Al Ahram, Lekjaa is the real boss of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Motsepe, president of the authority, the members of the executive committee and even the Senegalese Fatma Samoura, SG of FIFA, would be only puppets controlled by the strong man of Moroccan football.

All this relentlessness is just a smokescreen to hide the truth. And the truth is that Al Ahly and some leaders want the head of one man, Hany Abo Rida.

This « traitor to the nation » voted in favor of Morocco to organize the Champions League final, while Al Ahly were favorites to play a third in a row.

However, the only ones to blame in this story are the leaders of the Egyptian Football Federation (EFA), who did not apply to host the said final.

The rest, everyone knows it: two cities, Casablanca and Dakar, remained in the race. The former won the vote of the Executive Committee and the latter withdrew.

Fortunately, this whining goes almost unnoticed on the Old Continent. Because over there, apart from a few amateurs, few care about African competitions. Especially since, while the Egyptians are crunching their buns, the Europeans are preparing the final of their own C1, which they have managed to make a monumental spectacle, a real annual epic.

During this final, Real Madrid and Liverpool players will fight, suffer, win or lose, exult or cry. Destinies will be made and unmade, legends will be forged or crumbled until the final whistle, which will have the ingredients of the ultimate scene of a grand opera. All of this, of course, in front of the cameras, with the gentle tinkling of cash drawers in the background. Yes, UEFA has made its most prestigious competition more than a show: a real myth.

Comparison is certainly not right, but one begins to dream that one day, African football will know such fortune. Yes, Africa is far, very far from Europe.