By Victor Kanayo
Former Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) President and a top African football administrator, Isha Johansen was elected to the FIFA Foundation Board on Friday during a virtual meeting.
The FIFA Foundation was established in March 2018, as an independent entity with the objective to help promote positive social change around the world and raise support for the recovery and reconstruction of damaged or destroyed sports infrastructure worldwide.
Heritage Times HT reports that as part of its social responsibility, the FIFA Foundation Community will cover Recovery, FIFA Legends, Football for Schools, Campus, Refugee, Employee Volunteer Programmes.
Newly elected Johansen, the first Sierra Leonean to the FIFA Foundation Board, will now be part of planning and steering the programmes of the Foundation.
The former SLFA President is now serving in various committees in FIFA and CAF including member, FIFA Council, Member, CAF Executive Committee, Vice Chairman, CAF Women’s Organising Committee and member, FIFA Foundation Board.
She has evolved into becoming arguably one of Africa’s most impressive and respected football administrators, spanning her 18 years in football administration.
Her football career journey has attracted more high profile international media interest than any other African football administrator.
On Wednesday 27 July 2022, the FIFA Foundation Board met virtually to discuss the 2021 Activity Report, with the participation of all members of the Foundation, including Gianni Infantino – who doubles as FIFA President and President of the FIFA Foundation Board, and Mauricio Macri – Executive Chairman of the FIFA Foundation.
The election of members of the FIFA Foundation Board was on the agenda, which ushers in Johansen as the newly elected member of the Foundation, replacing the outgoing Lydia Nsekera from Burundi.
Gianni Infantino and Sonia Fulford were also re-elected for a new term.
