NAN-S-14
CAF (Re-opened)
By Babatunde Ogunrinde and Millicent Ifeayinchukwu
Lagos March 16, 2017 (NAN) More Nigerians reacting to the emergence of Madagascar’s Ahamad Ahmad as the new African Football Confederation (CAF) President, say it is time for all to embrace change in the continent’s football.
Their calls come on the heels of Ahmad defeating Issa Hayatou in the election that held at the African Union’s Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmad won the election with 34 to 20 votes garnered by Hayatou who had been in the saddle since 1988.
Sam Ikpea, the National Chairman, Nigeria Football Supporters Club, expressed happiness with the victory, saying it will usher in change for the good of African football.
“I am happy with the victory of Ahmad of Madagascar.
“Hayatou has been involved in the development of football for many years.
“It is indeed a time for change which we must accept for the progress of the game in Africa,’’ Ikpea said.
Emmanuel Tobi, also a football pundit, on his Facebook page, described the Ahmad’s victory as a move in the right direction.
Tobi said that the election had brought a change to football in Africa, noting that Hayatou had led the confederation for long.
Joe Erico, a former coach of the Super Eagles, also congratulated the new president, saying that he had made enormous contributions to football development.
“I expect him to bring innovations that will develop football in Africa from the grassroots to the top level.
“I will not fail to commend Hayatou who had given the best time of his life to the development of the game,’’ he told NAN.
Erico added that Hayatou’s record of achievements should be a benchmark for Ahmad to perform better.
Fred Edoreh, the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Writers Association, also said that the development was welcome in the hope that it would bring a new hope for African football.
“We all saw it in FIFA where a change in leadership was witnessed recently; Africa cannot afford to close its eyes to change.
“It is a revolution that indicates progress and a direction for positive development from time to come,’’ he said.
Ahmad is from a North-Western Malagasy Village and is the first Madagascan to run for the presidency of a continental sports confederation.
NAN reports that prior to the election, the Madagascan had indicated his intention not to allow politics to destroy football in Africa and that he was aspiring to reform football administration.
“A good candidate I can’t say I am, but I am a candidate for change and the majority wants change.
“I am the only one who could dare the present presidency for change and I am vying to bring this change.
“What makes my programme different is its uniqueness, I want to reform the administration, I can’t work with the current administration,’’ Ahmad had said while campaigning for the seat. (NAN)
BAO/MIL/AO/PDE
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(Editing by Angela Okisor/Peter Ejiofor)