The conference began with a rendition of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by a minute of silence in memory of martyrs who died for the territorial integrity of the country and representatives of the football community who passed away during the reporting year.
AFFA President Rovnag Abdullayev welcomed the guests, conference participants, and media members. Then, the Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee, Chingiz Huseynzada, took the floor and wished success to the new management of AFFA. He also highlighted the infrastructure development in Azerbaijani football during Rovnag Abdullayev's tenure as the president.
The General Secretary of AFFA, Sarkhan Hajiyev, delivered a report, which included the holding of an official football match in Khankendi, a territory liberated from occupation after a 30-year break: “A match of the Azerbaijan Cup was held in Khankendi, marking the first game in many years in the recently liberated lands. The match between "Qarabag" and MOIK was a significant event in the history of Azerbaijani sports. The President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the First Vice President, Mehriban Aliyeva, watched the match live in the stadium”. Then a video showcasing the work done during the reporting period was also presented.
Khalid Javadov, Head of the AFFA Finance and Accounting Department, was promised to present the financial report. He gave a detailed presentation on the revenues and earnings. Following this, the report of independent auditor Saftar Valizada was presented. Saftar Valizada is the representative of the "Russell Bedford" audit company in Azerbaijan.
After that, a video was shown highlighting the infrastructure projects launched from 2008 to 2024 and the major football competitions that were held in Azerbaijan.
Next, Servet Yardimci, a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, spoke. He conveyed the greetings of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin to the participants and spoke about the recent development of football in the country.
Later, Elkhan Mammadov, FIFA Director Member Associations Europe, gave a speech. He presented a video addressed from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and his highly appreciation for the work done during the tenure of AFFA President Rovnag Abdullayev. Elkhan Mammadov then spoke about Rovnag Abdullayev's work for Azerbaijani football during the 16-year period. He also talked about the successful performance of "Qarabag" in the UEFA Europa League and presented a gift to Rovnag Abdullayev on behalf of the FIFA president.
After that, AFFA President Rovnag Abdullayev, spoke about his 20-year experience in football: "I have a vivid memory of the victory we achieved over "Pyunik" in the "Union Cup" during my working time with "Neftchi". However, in 2006, the Armenian champions declined to play against us. While we have experienced both happy and sad moments, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our President, Mr. Ilham Aliyev for his unwavering support of football in Azerbaijan. His attention has been instrumental in ensuring that our clubs perform stably and do not face any financial difficulties. I would also like to extend my appreciation to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin for their continuous support and encouragement towards the growth of football in Azerbaijan".
After the speeches, Sarkhan Hajiyev announced that the next item on the agenda was to hold an election for the post of AFFA president. He noted that only one person, Rovshan Najaf, had been nominated for the position and according to the Charter, an open vote could be held since there was no alternative candidate. The conference representatives unanimously voted to elect Rovshan Najaf as AFFA president through open voting.
Following his election, Rovshan Najaf greeted the conference participants and thanked the football community for their trust. He spoke about his goals for the future: "Sports in Azerbaijan are developing thanks to the attention and care of our honorable President, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. Football is also growing, but there are still some shortcomings that need to be addressed. Specifically, we need to focus on developing children's football to ensure that the sport continues to thrive. Additionally, we should strive to increase fan interest in our games by improving the quality of telecasting. Unfortunately, our national team is not performing well in the FIFA rating, but with time and effort, we believe that they will find success in the future".
Later, the members of the Executive Committee were elected. There were an equal number of candidates for the 12 seats, so the election was done through open voting. The following individuals were unanimously elected to be members of the Executive Committee.
Professional Football League
1. Samad Gurbanov – "Neftchi"
2. Farid Mansurov – Professional Football League Public Union
3. Khayal Jafarov – "Sumgayit"
4. Gurban Gurbanov – "Qarabag"
5. Magsud Adigozalov – "Sabah"
Regional Football Federation
1. Elshad Nasirov – Western Regional Football Federations Public Union
2. Balakishi Gasimov – Northern Regional Football Federations Public Union
3. Sarkhan Hajiyev – Regional Football Federations Public Union
Sectional Football Federations
1. Ulvi Mansurov – Azerbaijan Futsal Federation
2. Leyla Khalilova Rzazada – Azerbaijan Students Football Federation
Public Football Organizations
1. Konul Mehtiyeva – Public Union of Public Football Organizations
2. Zaur Akhundov – Public Union of All-Azerbaijan Football Fans
Afterwards, Rovnag Abdullayev was given the floor again and he expressed his gratitude to all participants. Thus, the Conference was concluded.
Following the conclusion of the conference, the Executive Committee held a meeting, which was followed by a press conference where AFFA President Rovshan Najaf participated.
