By Shaffie A Mtambo
KINSHASA–(MaraviPost)-The President of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), Fleetwood Haiya and Felista Dossi, a member of the FAM Executive Committee, have achieved remarkable recognition on the global stage after being appointed to key FIFA committees responsible for shaping the future of world football.
Haiya, who has been at the helm of FAM since 2023, has been selected to serve on the FIFA Committee for the Future of Football, a highly influential body tasked with developing global strategies to improve football governance, infrastructure and competition structures.
This appointment places him among the few African football leaders actively contributing to FIFA’s long-term vision for the sport.
On the other hand, Felista Dossi, who has been instrumental in strengthening football governance structures within Malawi, has been appointed to the FIFA Legal and Regulatory Committee, which oversees compliance, fair play policies and the legal framework that governs world football.
Her selection underscores FIFA’s growing commitment to promoting gender inclusion and empowering African women leaders in football administration.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Assembly currently taking place in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The high-profile gathering has brought together football leaders from across the continent to discuss strategic reforms, youth development and the future of African football on the global stage.
The CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, presided over the assembly, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino also attended and congratulated newly appointed African members joining various FIFA committees.
Infantino reportedly commended Africa for its “growing leadership role and active participation in shaping the game globally.”
Speaking after the announcement, Fleetwood Haiya expressed deep gratitude for the trust placed in him, describing the appointment as “a proud moment for Malawi football and a sign that the world is beginning to recognize the strides our nation is making in football development.”
Felista Dossi, who is also one of the few women in football leadership in Southern Africa, described her appointment as “an opportunity to contribute to the legal strengthening of the game at a global level.”
She further emphasized that her new role would help her “bring back insights that can improve the legal and governance framework of football in Malawi”.
Meanwhile, the Football Association of Malawi has described the recognition as a “testament to the country’s growing influence” and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with both CAF and FIFA to elevate the standard of football in Malawi.