CAF presidency: Nigeria backs Hayatou’s challenger

Nigeria ’s Football Federation is backing a
challenge to the long-serving President of
the Confederation of African Football, Issa
Hayatou.
Mr. Hayatou is standing for an eighth
successive term of office, but faces
opposition from Ahmad Ahmad, the head of
Madagascar’s FA.
Amaju Pinnick, president of the NFF, told
the BBC the election will be “a defining
moment for African football”.
He said Ahmad was “courageous” in coming
forward to challenge Mr Hayatou.
Pinnick
Pinnick said CAF needs a “new generation”
of leadership, following the change at the
top of the world governing body Fifa.
He cited “post election differences between
Gianni [Infantino, the new Fifa president]
and Issa Hayatou which are irreconcilable”.
Infantino will be in Johannesburg later on
Tuesday for a gathering of football
federation leaders from across the
continent.
He is then due to visit Zimbabwe at the
invitation of the head of the southern
African confederation, Cosafa – which also
backs Ahmad.
Pinnick acknowledged that Hayatou could
still win – but said if he did, the veteran
Cameroonian would need to be open to
different influences.
“You have to listen to a larger audience
instead of just a tiny cabal, you have to
know it goes beyond you,” Pinnick said.
“I will definitely work with him if he wins but
my prayer is we need a bridge builder and
that person is Ahmad.”