Mali’s Mamoutou Touré has resigned as president of the country’s football federation, Femafoot, insisting he always acted in the best interests of Malian football.
In a resignation letter, Touré, widely known as Bavieux, reflected on his time in office and defended his record. “I leave my duties with a sense of mission accomplished and the certainty that I always acted in the best interest of Malian football,” he wrote.
Touré was elected Femafoot president in 2019 and later rose to prominent positions in world and African football governance, becoming a member of the FIFA Council and the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football.
His second mandate, however, was overshadowed by legal troubles. In 2023, the former tax inspector, who holds a master’s degree in auditing, was arrested on charges of embezzlement. The allegations related to the period between 2013 and 2019, before his election as Femafoot president, when five representatives of the then-ruling RPM party were in power. Touré denied the accusations.
In his resignation letter, he acknowledged the impact of those challenges. “This second mandate was marked by trials, notably legal issues that personally affected me,” he said.
Mamoutou Touré cited health reasons and a lack of support from the sports minister as key factors in his decision to step away from his role and not seek re-election to the FIFA Council. In 2024, The Times reported that he had dialled in from prison to attend a FIFA Council meeting. He has since been released.
His resignation comes amid a broader leadership crisis within Malian football. In mid-January, 10 members of Femafoot’s 19-strong executive committee stepped down, further destabilising the administration of the game in the country.
The turmoil followed Mali’s recent Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign, where they reached the quarter-finals in North Africa, matching their performance at the previous tournament in Ivory Coast two years earlier, but failed to win any game within 90 minutes.
Touré’s departure leaves Femafoot facing an uncertain period as it seeks new leadership and stability in the wake of internal resignations and ongoing governance challenges.
