Baffoe gets frest FIFA post

Fifa has appointed ex-Ghana international Anthony Baffoe as member of its crack Technical Study Group for the U17 World Cup in Nigeria which starts this weekend.

The latest appointment by the world governing body is a further boost for Baffoe who is regarded as the rising kid in world football administration.

Baffoe's excellent work as a match commisioner in several Fifa World Cup qualifiers this year has resulted in his latest appointment.

He will be based in Abuja and will join other experts to offer the technical analysis of the matches to be played in Abuja and Kaduna.

The 44-year-old impressed Caf officials at the CHAN tournament, which prompted officials to recommend him for Fifa appointments.

Fifa's decision to hand him Nigeria's crucial World Cup qualifier against Kenya three months ago was seen as the confidence the authorities have in him.

His performance and tactfulness during the match in Abuja prompted Fifa to give him a bigger challenge by making him the match commisioner of the Gabon-Morocco World Cup qualifying clash this month.

The Ghanaian's experience as a footballer and an effective communicator, who speaks eights international languages, is certain to help his ascend to the top.

Baffoe, whose dreadlocks have now been replaced by a more conservative shaven-head look, played in the Bundesliga for FC Cologne and Fortuna Dusseldorf before spending three seasons in France with Metz and Nice.

He first played for the Black Stars in 1991, brought into the team by German coach Burkhard Ziese.

His first match for the Ghanaian team was his first trip back to his native country since he was a small child.

Baffoe last played for Ghana in the 1994 African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.