Alfred Foloko Elected Vice President of New African Olympic Body, CASOL

Alfred Foloko, President of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ), has taken on a new leadership role as Vice President of the Association of African Olympic Sports Confederations (CASOL).

The election took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where African sports leaders convened to establish this continental organization dedicated to promoting African participation in the Olympic Games.

CASOL was created with support from the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), aiming to address and eliminate obstacles that African athletes face in Olympic qualification.

The organization plans to work closely with International Federations, the Association of International Summer Olympic Federations (ASOIF), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to support African athletes’ Olympic aspirations.

ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf attended the inaugural meeting, joining other notable figures in African sports to formalize CASOL’s formation. During the session, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum of Cameroon was elected as CASOL President.

Following the elections, the new Executive Council, chaired by President-elect Malboum, gathered to discuss CASOL’s priorities and strategic goals.

Key Issues and CASOL’s Mission; Several important topics were discussed at the Executive Committee meeting, including the immediate approval of CASOL’s statutes and the development of a strategic plan and financing policy.

The meeting reinforced CASOL’s mission to remove barriers that hinder African athletes from competing at the Olympics. CASOL will also provide support for the upcoming African Games, set to take place in Cairo in 2027.

A significant focus was placed on securing official recognition for CASOL from ANOCA, the IOC, and ASOIF. The committee established a three-month roadmap to facilitate this process, including the creation of an administrative office in Yaoundé.

The President was tasked with engaging the Cameroonian government to secure office space and formalize agreements necessary for CASOL’s operations.

Additionally, the Executive Committee committed to developing a comprehensive strategic plan within six months to present to the General Assembly.

The newly elected CASOL Executive Board comprises ten members representing diverse Olympic sports disciplines:
Hamad Kalkaba Malboum (President) – Athletics
Joao da Costa Alegre (Vice President) – Canoe
Bouchra Hajij (Vice President) – Volleyball
Alfred Foloko (Vice President) – Judo
Mbagnick Ndiaye (Treasurer) – Fencing
Mansourou Aremou (Member) – Handball
Ide Issaka (Member) – Taekwondo
Ehab Amin Esawy (Member) – Gymnastics
Mohamedou Diop (Member) – Swimming
Albert Frimpong (Member) – Baseball

This diverse team reflects CASOL’s commitment to advancing a wide array of sports and fostering Olympic opportunities for African athletes.

The organization is poised to make a significant impact by promoting collaboration and unity within Africa’s sports community, paving the way for future Olympic success for the continent’s athletes.