Fatma Samoura: From top diplomat to world football boss
The FIFA Council last Friday appointed Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura of Senegal as FIFA Secretary General, thrusting the 21-year veteran of United Nations programmes who is currently the UN’s Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, into the heartbeat of world football.
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The announcement made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City has been the only major surprise of Infantino's first annual congress as head of the world football body, as the Italian tried to reassure the 1,000 delegates that the worst of FIFA's problems were behind it.
Samoura’s surprise appointment has already been heralded as an important step towards greater diversity and independent thought by close observers of FIFA politics.
Australia's Moya Dodd, one of only three female members currently on the FIFA Council, has tweeted this is a "landmark day for #womeninFIFA".
"Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on the role of FIFA Secretary General," said Samoura in an official statement.
"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 under way"
Samoura's first big test is likely to be leading attempts to encourage Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, to do more to improve conditions for the migrant workers building the infrastructure needed in the desert state.
As required under FIFA statutes, Ms Samoura will undergo an eligibility check administered by the independent Review Committee, per Article 37 of the FIFA Statutes. Ms Samoura will assume the role of FIFA Secretary General before mid-June.
President Infantino praised Ms Samoura’s integrity, and said the Council was particularly impressed with her operational experience, as well as her expertise in governance and working in multi-cultural environments. He said her expertise will complement the long-standing and deep knowledge of world football within the FIFA leadership team and administration.
“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," President Infantino said. "No one exemplifies what we need more than Fatma does, and we are thrilled that she has joined our team.”
Since starting her UN career as a senior logistics officer with the World Food Programme in Rome in 1995, Ms Samoura has served as country representative or director in six countries: Republic of Djibouti, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Madagascar and Nigeria. She speaks French (her mother tongue), English, Spanish and Italian.
“Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on the role of FIFA’s Secretary General,” Ms Samoura said. “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.Ms Samoura earned her Masters Degree in English and Spanish at the University of Lyon; and a Post-Masters Degree in international relations/international trade from the Institut d’Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées (IECS)- Strasbourg-France.