Renowned Niger Former Footballer Appointed PAP Sports Ambassador
As the African Union legislative arm prioritize sporting activities across the continent
The former Niger national football team player Dennis Issoufou Idrissa was officially sworn in as a sports ambassador in the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The new Ambassador to occupy the inaugural role took up his role on 10 November, the same day legislative newcomers were sworn in as Members of Parliament.
The 45-year-old Dennis retired from football in 2009, and according to an interview with Forbes Africa, his passion for the sport has remained evident in his work as a player agent, recruiter, a club manager of Niger’s premier league giant Al Sahel Sporting Club. He launched 54 Foot magazine in 2021, a sporwhich aims to positively promote the image of African football and the influence of CAF.
Mr. Iddrissa serves as the advisor to the President of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Artur de Almeida e Silva and works closely with the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), South African tycoon Patrice Motsepe. He has a track record of assisting sports leaders in their career development, within the institutions of FIFA and CAF.
Appointed by the Bureau of the Pan African Parliament led by Chief Fortune Charumbira of Zimbabwe, Idrissa joins the list of the influential Africans working with the continental legislative body. Other ambassadors include South African mining magnet Brigdette Motsepe, sister to the First Lady of South Africa Tshepo Motsepe.
“We firmly believe that sport plays a pivotal unifying role not only within the Member States but also across the continent. We thus throw down the gauntlet to you as our Ambassador to assist the Pan African Parliament to advance continental solidarity, unity, and integration through sport,” read the appointment letter.
