By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
In a major step toward professionalizing football medicine and safeguarding player welfare, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Union of Central African Football Federations (UNIFFAC) have launched a high-level Medical and Anti-Doping Training Course in Libreville, Gabon. The program, held from October 10 to 15, brings together medical staff from national teams across Central Africa for a week of advanced training on injury management, emergency care, and doping control protocols.
The course, organized under the umbrella of CAF’s Medical Division, is designed to standardize medical and anti-doping practices across the region and ensure national team doctors, physiotherapists, and doping control officers are aligned with international standards.
Led by Renowned Experts, Including New FIFA Medical Committee Member
At the heart of the training is Dr. Boubakary Sidiki of Cameroon, who was recently appointed as a member of the FIFA Medical Committee, a prestigious recognition of his contribution to football medicine in Africa. A CAF-certified medical officer with years of experience at continental and international tournaments, Dr. Sidiki is leading several sessions on:
- The CAF MRI protocol used for age verification,
- The organization of medical structures during CAF competitions,
- Emergency interventions, including CPR, AED usage, and the development of Medical Emergency Action Plans,
- Management of muscle injuries, heat stroke, and concussion protocols.
Dr. Sidiki is joined by Professor Yasser Abdel Rahman, a key CAF and WADA-certified anti-doping expert, and Mr. Sherif Abou El Enein, who has played a central role in the development and implementation of CAF’s paperless anti-doping testing platform — MODOC.
Hands-On Medical and Anti-Doping Workshops
The course is structured to balance theory and practice, with morning lectures followed by afternoon hands-on workshops. Participants are receiving in-depth training on:
Anti-doping sample collection procedures (urine testing, out-of-competition protocols),
How to operate within the MODOC system to ensure secure, paperless data handling,
Management of emergency scenarios such as sudden cardiac arrest, severe trauma, and surgical emergencies during matches,
Use of physiotherapy equipment, match-day injury prevention strategies, and post-tournament medical reporting.
Focus on Anti-Doping Compliance and Ethics
A strong emphasis is placed on anti-doping education, in line with CAF’s collaboration with FIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Participants are being trained to identify the risks of performance-enhancing substances, monitor the use of nutritional supplements, and conduct ethically sound testing procedures during and outside of competition.
The course also includes updates on the 2024 WADA Prohibited List, the responsibilities of Anti-Doping Control Officers (DCOs), and the importance of safeguarding the rights and dignity of athletes during testing.
Third Major UNIFFAC Activity in Under a Month
This initiative is part of a broader capacity-building campaign spearheaded by UNIFFAC in recent weeks. It follows two significant events:
- The CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal Qualifiers held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
- Referee Development Seminar hosted in Douala, Cameroon.
These efforts reflect UNIFFAC’s strategic objective of strengthening technical, medical, and ethical standards within the sub-region ahead of upcoming CAF and FIFA competitions.
UNIFFAC Interim Executive Director Remy Martial Nnang opens workshop in Lebreville
Looking Ahead
As the course continues throughout the week, participants will engage in advanced practical sessions, review emergency simulations, and conduct full mock doping control operations using the MODOC system.
By the end of the program, all attendees are expected to be certified and updated on CAF’s latest medical protocols, empowering them to serve effectively during qualifiers, tournaments, and club competitions across the continent.
With FIFA and CAF’s support, and UNIFFAC’s proactive leadership under president Jean Guy Matolas, the Libreville workshop is a strong signal that Central Africa is investing in the professionalism, safety, and integrity of its game — from the dressing room to the field of play.
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