Ghana's FA chief named CAF first-VP, DR Congo gets 2nd slot

Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been confirmed as First-Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The 49-year-old thus becomes the second most powerful man in African football, next to CAF boss, Ahmad Ahmad. The Mauritanian displaced long-serving Issah Hayatou at the CAF Congress held in Ethiopia in March.

Nyantakyi was appointed at the first meeting of the Ahmad administration in Bahrain on Monday. The position of second Vice President went to Constant Omari from Congo. More appointments expected to be made at the Confederation’s Executive Committee meeting.

ghanafaofficial Prez Kwesi Nyantakyi has been named the 1st Vice Prez of Africa's football governing body CAF_Online Congrats Kwesi. pic.twitter.com/LUeUZz5AM0

— Ghana FA 🇬🇭 (@ghanafaofficial) May 8, 2017

Nyantakyi was recently re-elected as a FIFA Executive Committee member also becomes the first Ghanaian to rise to the second highest position in African Football.

He is a trained lawyer who worked in the banking industry prior to entering football management full time. He rose to the position of GFA President after winning a landslide vote in 2005 after the then president, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe was forced to resign.

Nyantakyi led the West African country to its first World Cup outing at Germany 2006 when the Black Stars progressed to the second round after beating the Czech Republic and the United States despite losing the first match to Italy.

The Black Stars subsequently made it to the two competitions that followed – South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. His critics have slammed him for unnecessarily focusing on the Black Stars to the detriment of the local football. He is also the owner of a local club, Wa All Stars.