FIFA appoint Senegalese as first female Secretary General

The appointment of the Senegalese was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City.

Ms Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura is a veteran of the United Nations programmes for 21 years and is currently UN’s Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria.

FIFA President Giani Infantino said after the appointment of Ms Samoura:

“Fatma is a woman with international experience and vision who has worked on some of the most challenging issues of our time.

“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.”

The new FIFA Secretary General will undergo an eligibility check by an independent Review Committee as required by Article 37 of the FIFA Statuses.

Ms Samoura will start her role as the FIFA Secretary General before mid-June. The Senegalese is the first woman to assume the role for the football governing body.

Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura earned her Masters Degree in English and Spanish at the University of Lyon and a Post-Masters Degree in International Relations/International Trade.