Ibrahima Blasco Barry is an emblematic figure in Guinean football, having occupied for many years the strategic position of Secretary General of the Guinean Football Federation (FEGUIFOOT). Originally from Dar-Es-Salam (Mamou), he distinguished himself through his expertise in sports administration, also holding important positions within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.
His career was marked by a difficult period between 2017 and 2021, during which he faced accusations of financial misconduct before being cleared by the Guinean justice system. Rehabilitated, he made his return to football affairs in 2024, first as Special Advisor to President Bouba Dinah Sampil, then resuming his position as Secretary General of FEGUIFOOT in March 2024, where he committed to modernizing the administration of Guinean football, strengthening governance, and bringing together the national football family.
Introduction
Ibrahima Blasco Barry is an emblematic figure in Guinean football, recognized for his administrative expertise and deep knowledge of the inner workings of the sport. His journey, marked by ups and downs, testifies to a career dedicated to the development of football in Guinea and across the African continent.
Remarkable Rise in the Football World
Originally from Dar-Es-Salam (Mamou), Ibrahima Blasco Barry devoted himself to football from a young age. His academic training took place entirely in Guinea, where he acquired the skills that allowed him to climb the ranks of national football administration.
It was as Secretary General of the Guinean Football Federation (FEGUIFOOT) that he truly made a name for himself. Succeeding Bruno Bangoura, he occupied this strategic position for several years, significantly contributing to the structuring and development of Guinean football.
Internationally Recognized Expertise
Beyond Guinean borders, Ibrahima Blasco Barry distinguished himself through his expertise on the international stage. He held important positions within the Confederation of African Football (CAF), notably:
- Member of CAF's permanent commissions
- CAF General Coordinator
- CAF and FIFA Commissioner
His presence in these bodies was valuable for Guinea, making him one of the few West African representatives to simultaneously hold so many responsibilities in the governing bodies of continental and world football.
Challenging Period of Exile (2017-2021)
Blasco Barry's career took a dramatic turn in 2017. Following an audit commissioned by Antonio Souaré, then president of FEGUIFOOT, he was accused along with other officials of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. This case notably concerned the disappearance of approximately 834,000 euros from the federation's accounts between 2013 and 2015.
Arrested and imprisoned in December 2017, he spent a month in detention at Conakry's central prison before being released on December 29 of the same year. This ordeal deeply affected him, especially as it occurred shortly after the death of his father, Elhadj Mamadou Saliou Barry, on February 23, 2017, in Casablanca.
For nearly six years, Ibrahima Blasco Barry found himself distanced from the governing bodies of Guinean football, a period he himself described as "exile."
Judicial Rehabilitation
On June 15, 2021, the Court of Appeal issued a ruling clearing Ibrahima Blasco Barry of the charge of "breach of trust" against FEGUIFOOT. This decision confirmed an initial judgment by the Court of First Instance of Kaloum in his favor.
On this occasion, Blasco Barry expressed himself emotionally: "I never did anything wrong, and justice through the process of dual jurisdiction has made me a happy man today. [...] I am simply a happy and fulfilled man for having been cleared before public opinion, cleared before members of the football family, before my children and my wife who can now hold their heads high, before my friends..."
Return to Affairs (2024)
After years of absence, Ibrahima Blasco Barry made his official return to Guinean football bodies in January 2024, when the new FEGUIFOOT president, Bouba Dinah Sampil, appointed him as Special Advisor to the President.
On March 1, 2024, his reintegration was confirmed with his appointment as Secretary General of FEGUIFOOT, a position he had held until 2017. On March 5, during the handover ceremony with his predecessor Lancinet Kabassan Keita, he presented his priorities:
- Bringing the Guinean football family together
- Strengthening cohesion within the executive committee
- Modernizing and digitalizing the federal administration
- Implementing the FIFA Connect system to eradicate age fraud among players
- Strengthening administrative, financial, and legal governance
- Supporting technical and regional leagues
- Developing and modernizing refereeing
Controversial but Respected Personality
Despite his rehabilitation and return to business, Ibrahima Blasco Barry remains a divisive figure in Guinean football circles. In August 2024, N'Famara Bangoura, a member of FEGUIFOOT's communication unit and close to President Bouba Sampil, sharply criticized him, calling him a "manipulator" and accusing him of being the source of Guinean football's problems.
These accusations came in a context of tensions within FEGUIFOOT's executive committee, with five members publishing a document accusing the president of making "unilateral decisions" and practicing "opaque management."
Nevertheless, many observers recognize Ibrahima Blasco Barry's value. As Mathé Bah emphasized in November 2021: "Ibrahima Blasco Barry is not a finished man. Through his aura, his experience, but also through his many healthy relationships in world football's elite circles, the man can still contribute to his nation."
Duty of Remembrance
In March 2025, Ibrahima Blasco Barry demonstrated his attachment to the history of Guinean football by publishing a lengthy tribute to deceased national football figures. This "Duty of Remembrance and union of prayers" testifies to his deep knowledge of Guinean football history and his respect for those who contributed to it.
Conclusion
Ibrahima Blasco Barry's journey illustrates the challenges and complexities of sports administration in Africa. Despite the obstacles and accusations he faced, his resilience and expertise have allowed him to return to the forefront of Guinean football. His story is one of fall and redemption, of a man who, through his deep understanding of continental and international football mechanisms, remains a valuable asset for the development of the sport in Guinea.
Today, as he once again occupies the strategic position of Secretary General of FEGUIFOOT, all eyes are on him to see if he will succeed in implementing his vision of modern, transparent, and high-performing Guinean football.
