Abiodun Jimoh
The Madagascar FA chairman, Ahmad Ahmad has defeated Confederations of African Football’s (CAF) long-serving President, Issa Hayatou by 14 votes to emerges new president during the association’s General Assembly Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Thursday.
Ahmed garnered 34 votes to Hayatou’s 20 votes to unseat the Cameroonian, who had been in power for 29 years and was seeking for consecutive eighth four-year term.
The result was greeted by cheers at the CAF Congress as Ahmad was carried on the shoulders of jubilant supporters to the podium after the result was announced.
Ahmad, previously minister of sport and minister of fisheries in his home country, had been given little chance just a month ago when he announced his candidacy. But he offered voters a fresh face to a younger generation of soccer association presidents that have emerged.
“When you try to do something, you mean that you can do it. If I can’t do it, I never stand. This is sweet victory. When you work hard for years and months and you succeed, that is great.” the 57-year-old said.
Hayatou, who had been in power since 1988 when he replaced Abdel Halim Mohammad, and has overseen significant growth in the continental game and in CAF’s standing within the global football community.
The Cameroonian who as a result of the defeat would lose his position on the ruling council of world football’s governing body, was led from the auditorium by aides who ignored requests for comment from media.
