<<Print>>

Anthony Baffoe's steady rise in administration got a further boost this weekend when he impressed as the match commissioner for the crucial World Cup qualifier between Gabon and Morocco. World football governing body, Fifa, put the former Ghana defender in charge of the important Group A game in Libreville.The performance of Baffoe during the match has drawn praise from both sides of the game with the Gabonese describing him as 'very professional' in news reports. Even though Morocco lost the game 3-1, several plaeyrs of the Atlas Lions hailed the performance of the young administrator as 'very fair and firm'.The latest revelation is a massive shot in the arm for Baffoe who is considered as the rising kid in Africa's football administration. Baffoe cut his teeth in administration after an appointment by the Confederation of Africa Football (Caf) early this year.He was named as one of the technical experts for the maiden edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Ivory Coast in March. 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 two 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.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 Baffoe, whose dreadlocks have now been replaced by a more conservative shaven-head look, played in the Bundesliga for FC Cologne and Fortuna Dusseldorf before spending three seasons in France with Metz and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.