Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas breathing new life into UNIFFAC

The Central African region is gradually finding its way back on top of the football strata in the African continent, and it is majorly due to the work done by the Union of Central African Football Federations (UNIFFAC).

Led by its emblematic president – Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas, the UNIFFAC region has left from a silent to a very engaging region.

Upon his nomination as UNIFFAC boss in 2021 after serving around the corridors of the institution for close to 5 years, it was never going to be an easy task. At that time, Ahmad Ahmad had passed on leadership to SA billionaire Patrice Motsepe, and the world was only just recovering from the havoc wrecked by the COVID19.

Despite multitasking with two roles as president of the Congolese FA and Uniffac boss, there has been great progress in all forms in the region.

Seminar for coaches and National technical directors

In a capacity building congress currently being held in Douala this November, UNIFFAC has assembled 6 national technical directors across different countries.

Asides the National technical directors, regional coaches of women’s national teams engaged FIFA and CAF instructors which helped to enhance knowledge, and, presentations were done by coaches afterwards.

The rise of women’s football

Mayolas, 62, took over as the Union of Central African Football Federations in 2021, a period where women’s football in the region was making baby steps on the continent.

It has been quite a gargantuan change in his three to four year spell as competition has heightened overtime.

Testament to this, is a list of the CAF Awards (women’s category), which shows huge presence from the Uniffac region.

Cathy Biya (Cameroon / Eclair),
Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo / TP Mazembe) for goalkeeper of the year.

For women’s inter-club player of the year, two Ladies from the Uniffac region made the shortlist given Mazembe’s stellar showing, in the CAF women’s champions league. Sandrine
Merveille Nanguji (DR Congo / TP Mazembe)
Lacho Flora Marta (DR Congo / TP Mazembe).

Young women’s player of the year nominees from the region: Cathy Biya (Cameroon / Eclair)
Naomi Eto (Cameroon / Amazone FAP).

Coach of the year nomination: Hassan Balla Abdousalami (Cameroon U-20),
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe).

For national team of the year, Cameroon’s U-17 ladies made the shortlist for their exploits at the Women’s U-20 World Cup, while TP Mazembe got nominated for club of the year.

Men’s game finding its feet again

Things haven’t been any different in the men’s game with the Mayolas effect applying in the same measure.

In 2021, the AFCON was hosted by a UNIFFAC representative, Cameroon, and the indomitable Lions eventually finished with a bronze medal.

In the subsequent edition, DR. Congo ended fourth while Equatorial Guinea registered the biggest tournament upset after hammering eventual winners Côté d’Ivoire by four, and skipper, Emilio Nsue ending with the competition’s highest scorer award (5 goals).

CAF Awards ” Men’s category ” Uniffac zone

Player of the year nominee: Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo / Olympique de Marseille),

Goalkeeper of the year nominee: Andre Onana (Cameroon / Manchester United)

Lionel Mpasi (DR Congo / Rodez AF)

Coach of the year nominee: Sebastien Desabre (DR Congo)

Young player of the year:Carlos Baleba (Cameroon / Brighton & Hove Albion)

After consecutively making the group stages of the CAF champions League, TP Mazembe was shortlisted for club of the year in good company, with the likes of Sundowns, Ahly and Espérance.

The Congolese national team represented the region for men’s national team of the year after having finished fourth in the AFCON held in Côté d’Ivoire.

In line with his objective of making the region more active, Mr. Mayolas has increased the number of competitions which has led to the advent of the FATSHI cup, an annual under-20 competition meant to improve grassroot football.

It doesn’t just end at improving grassroot football and making sure teams in the region engage.

The Mayolas era has added value in personnelle as well. In March this year, a group of young Congolese journalists took part in a capacity building workshop Kinshasa. The session was organized by UNIFFAC, with blessings from the confederation of African Football (CAF).