NAN-S-11
CAF
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagso, March, 16, 2017 (NAN) Football enthusiasts on Thursday said the emergence Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad as the new President of African Football Confederation (CAF) will usher in change in African football.
The fans who, apparently, were happy with the defeat of Cameroon’s Issa Hayoutu who had been on saddle for 29 years, advised the incoming CAF president to do all he could to promote football in the continent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmad won the election with 34 to 20 votes garnered by Hayatou at the Headquarters of African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The defeat ends Hayatou’s reign which began in 1988.
Friday Ekpo, a former Super Eagles player, congratulated Ahmad for taking a bold step to make a change in African football.
He advised the new president to do everything possible to develop and promote the sport in the continent.
“The new president has a lot of job to do and I hope he will take his time to study the situation on ground and make positive changes where necessary in CAF,’’ he said.
Christian Chukwu, a former Super Eagles Chief Coach, told NAN that the Hayatou had paid his dues and ought to have stepped down from the position before the election.
“Hayatou has tried as far as I am concerned, he should have left the position but instead he decided to re-contest to remain in charge.
“Let’s watch the new president and the plans he has for African football because to whom much is given much is expected,’’ Chukwu said.
Bright Omokara, an ex-international expressed delight over Hayatou’s defeat in the election.
“I am happy that Hayatou has been voted out, he was biased in his decisions and had negatively influenced the outcome of some Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) matches.
“He did a lot of things that dragged the continent back in football and I’m happy that finally he has gone,’’ he said.
He urged the new president to quickly move into action and do the needful to move football forward in the continent. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)