CAF boss interviewed over Puma deal gone bad

A joint investigation by BBC Sport Africa and Norway’s Josimar magazine can reveal some of the background which led to one of world football’s most senior figures being questioned by French authorities. He was interviewed, but not detained nor charged, in Paris last week.

At its heart lies a little-known company that Confederation of African Football (Caf) President Ahmad introduced to his organisation. France-based Tactical Steel has become a key supplier of equipment to Caf, including for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations, despite not appearing to offer football equipment on its website.

Ever since documents leaked earlier this year highlighted a deal made in 2017 – the year Ahmad took office – between Caf and French company Tactical Steel, the Caf president’s role has been under scrutiny.

The deal in December 2017 was notable as Caf cancelled an order worth 210,217 euros ($248,055/£186,899) with sportswear company Puma to take up an alternative order with Tactical Steel for $1,015,313. The Puma deal included a 60% discount.

Caf had decided to switch to a different sports brand but these could not apparently be obtained in time from a local manufacturer, hence the appointment of Tactical Steel.

The switch to a new and unfamiliar supplier attracted attention.

Caf insiders say it is unusual for the African football body to buy sports equipment through a third party, rather than deal directly with major sports manufacturers as has happened regularly in the past.

Media reports suggest the orders – to provide Caf with footballs and kits for the African Nations Championship (Chan) in Morocco in January 2018 – were identical but BBC Sport Africa and its Norwegian collaborator Josimar have been told this was not the case.

Ahmad has said that the Puma deal was for 13,378 non-branded items and the Tactical Steel deal for 35,460 branded items, but documents we’ve seen suggest the difference between the orders was much smaller: the Puma deal being for just over 15,000 and the Tactical Steel one for just over 22,000.

SRC:BBC