Madagascar’s Ahmad elected CAF boss

By KBC Reporters

Little known Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar is the new football leader in Africa after beating long serving president Issa Hayatou during the Confederations of Africa Football general election held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia Thursday.

Ahmad defeated Cameroon’s Hayatou by 34 votes to 20, to clinch the seat.

Issa Hayatou who hails from a rich family in Cameroon has been CAF boss for nearly three decades and has often been re-elected unopposed.

But today he was forced to bow out of the CAF hierarchy after losing 34-20 to Madagascar Football Association chairman Ahmad.

Ahmad a former a football player and coach had campaigned on administrative reform, financial transparency and a potential reorganization of CAF competitions.

He also vowed to fight for gender recognition in soccer in Africa, focus on youth completion and to have a new format of Africa Cup of Nations among key plans. Ahmad managed to win the election following a popular support of delegated from COSAFA region, Central Africa and Northern African states.

CAF has had only five bosses in its 60-year history and the last time a new leader was elected was way back in 1988 when Issa Hayatou took over the leadership.

Hayatou has reigned over African Football ever since, refusing to give up power despite a kidney transplant in 2015.

His controversies have included being accused by a Britain newspaper of taking money in exchange for backing Qatar to get the 2022 World Cup.

The departure of Hayatou is a huge change for African football and the 70-year-old will automatically lose his FIFA position and his place on the ruling council of world football’s governing body.

On the flipside, Hayatou has been praised for bringing in sponsorship money to African tournaments and increasing Africa’s places at the World Cup.