The FIFA Council today appointed Senegal’s Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura as FIFA Secretary General, the first woman to hold the post.
Samoura is a 21-year veteran of United Nations programmes who is currently the UN’s Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria.
“Fatma is a woman with international experience and vision who has worked on some of the most challenging issues of our time,” President Gianni Infantino said at the FIFA Congress in Mexico.
The FIFA Council today appointed Senegal’s Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura as FIFA Secretary General, the first woman to hold the post.
Samoura is a 21-year veteran of United Nations programmes who is currently the UN’s Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria.
“Fatma is a woman with international experience and vision who has worked on some of the most challenging issues of our time,” President Gianni Infantino said at the FIFA Congress in Mexico.
“She has a proven ability to build and lead teams, and improve the way organisations perform. Importantly for FIFA, she also understands that transparency and accountability are at the heart of any well-run and responsible organisation.”
Samoura will take on the role in mid-June after the mandatory eligibility check.
“It is essential for FIFA to incorporate fresh perspectives – from outside the traditional pool of football executives – as we continue to restore and rebuild our organisation. No one exemplifies what we need more than Fatma does, and we are thrilled that she has joined our team.”
She speaks French, English, Spanish and Italian.
Not only is she the first woman to be Secretary General of FIFA, she is also the first non-European to have the position.
“Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on the role of FIFA’s Secretary General,” said Samoura.
“I believe this role is a perfect fit for my skills and experience – strategic, high impact team building in international settings – which I will use to help grow the game of football all over the world.
“I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance and compliance to bear on the important reform work that is already underway at FIFA.
“FIFA is taking a fresh approach to its work – and I am eager to play a role in making that approach as effective and lasting as possible.”
In her current UN role in Nigeria, Ms. Samoura has wide-ranging responsibilities including budgeting, human resources, and procurement, among others.
She coordinates the activities of approximately 2,000 staff members, and monitors and evaluates the security, political and socio-economic situation and trends in Africa’s most populous country.