Rewarding incompetence and corruption

Some years ago, Brazlian soccer legend Pele predicted that an African country would win the World Cup before the end of the 20th century. Unfortunately, that prediction did not come true. The main thing that has held back African powers from international success is not the quality of players, but the quality of organization. From governments meddling in the affairs of soccer federations, to federations meddling in team selection, to often lamentable training conditions for players and coaches, to poor youth development programs. In African soccer, much like Africa as a whole, incompetence and corruption are too often rewarded instead of punished. So much so that you'd think it was run by appointees of US president Bush.

A great example of this has occurred at African soccer's show piece event.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has announced that 43-year-old Mourad Daami will officiate the final between Egypt and Ivory Coast in Cairo.
He was banned in 2001 after being found guilty of trying to influence the referee at the 2000 African Champions League final in Ghana between Hearts of Oak and the Tunisian club Esperance.

Daami, who as at the match as a member of Esperance's delegation, entered the referee's change room to try to persuade colleague Robbie Williams of South Africa to call off the match because of rioting by spectators at Accra's National stadium.

The Nations Cup final is the most high profile match administered by African confederation. Why would CAF confer responsibility of this most important match to an official who botched his previous Nations Cup final AND was banned for improper conduct shows? In doing so, they are rewarding both incompetence and corruption... in a single individual.