Ahmad to challenge CAF president

The head of Madagascar’s Football Association, Ahmad Ahmad says he is ready to challenge long-standing CAF president Issa Hayatou in the body’s presidential election to be held in March.

Hayatou has been at the helm of CAF since 1988 and is now seeking an eighth term.

Ahmad Ahmad is a member of the CAF executive committee and has called on other federation presidents to support his bid.

“A good candidate… I can’t say, but I am a candidate for change and the majority wants change. I am the only one who could dare present a candidacy for the change. And I am vying to bring this change,” the president of Madagascar’s Football Association, Ahmad Ahmad said. Issa Hayatou now CAF’s longest serving ruler has led the organisation for 29 years.

Nigeria has backed Ahmad’s decisions to challenge Hayatou as courageous.

“What makes my programme different is its uniqueness, I want to reform the administration, I can’t work with the current administration,“Ahmad Ahmad added.

The president of the Nigerian Football Federation Amaju Pinnick says CAF needs a new generation of leadership following the change at the helm of FIFA.

The Head of the NFF says even if Hayatou wins, he will need to to be open to pay more attention to other influences.