FATMA Samoura will leave her role as FIFA secretary general at end of 2023, the world football governing body has announced.
The Senegalese woman has been in the position for seven years in which FIFA says she “played a pivotal role in transforming the organisation, restoring its credibility and breaking down barriers”.
“It was the best decision of my life to join FIFA,” Samoura said today upon the announcement.
“I am very proud to have led such a diverse team. My first word of thanks goes to Gianni Infantino for giving me this dream job. He has shown trust, understanding and an incredible level of support. It is a pleasure to work alongside someone that has transformed FIFA.
“FIFA today is a better governed, more open, more reliable and more transparent organisation. I will leave FIFA with a high sense of pride and fulfilment.
“I had intended to share my news first with the FIFA Council members next week, but I am aware there has been growing speculation about my position in recent months.
“For now, I am fully focused on the preparation and delivery of the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. I look forward to spending the next six months bringing to life the 11 objectives that President Infantino announced at the FIFA Congress in Kigali in March.
“From next year, I would like to spend more time with my family. I have been in love with football since I was eight years old and I feel honoured to have been on this journey.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised Samoura, who is the first female and non-European secretary general in the organisation’s history.
“It has been a privilege and an honour to work with a trailblazer in the game,” Infantino said. “Ever since we met, I knew she would be superb for FIFA.
“Her passion and enthusiasm to drive change has been inspirational. Fatma was the first woman, and the first African, to be appointed to such an important position at FIFA.
“We respect Fatma’s decision and I would like to thank her for such dedication and commitment to football. Fatma will continue to contribute towards the development of the game and its social values together with us.”
Appointed in May 2016 by then recently elected Infantino, FIFA says Samoura has overseen unprecedented growth in women’s football ever since.
“Fatma has overseen a complete restructure at FIFA that included the appointment of two Deputy Secretary Generals, a new and fully developed Women’s Football Division, a Technical Development Division, a Chief Compliance Officer, and improved programmes for FIFA’s 211 member associations,” the body states.
Samoura arrived at FIFA with more than two decades of experience working for the United Nations where she served in seven countries: the Republic of Djibouti, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Niger, Madagascar and Nigeria.
