CAF PRESIDENCY: Issa Hayatou must go, says Pinnick

.Says it's time for change in Africa football

.100% sure of Ahmad's victory

(l-r) Issa Hayatou with Amaju Pinnick

                  By Akeem Lawal

THE President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick says African must follow the trends in global football administration by voting out long-serving President of the Confederation of African Football Issa Hayatou during CAF elections slated for March 16, 2017 in Ethiopia.

Hayatou is standing for an eighth successive term of office, but faces opposition from Ahmad Ahmad, the head of Madagascar’s FA.

Speaking with Sports Zone, a Lagos-based radio station sports programme on Thursday, Pinnick said CAF needs a new generation of leadership on the continent, following the change at the top of the world governing body FIFA.

“I like to thank the executive committee of the NFF for according me the liberty of choosing whoever because I will vote on behalf of the federation. Having said that we feel very strongly, we are group of progressives in CAF that feels that we need a change in CAF because at the moment there is a pros election irreconcilable difference between Gianni Infanito and Issa Hayatou.

 

Ahmad Ahmad

“We are looking at generational CAF between Hayatou and other Confederation. For example, Alejandro Domínguez, the president of CONMEBOL is 44 years old, the president of CONCACAF, Victor Montagliani is 51 years old, the president of Oceania Football Federation, David Chung is 55 years old, the president of Asian Confederation, Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa is 51 years old, the president of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin is 47 years old, the President of FIFA, Infatino is 47 years old. Issa Hayatou is well over 70 years old. 

“When there was a debate of the increment of the teams to World Cup from 32 to 48, out of the six confederations, it was only CAF that objected to it. The five other confederations said how would you object, it’s the more, the merrier. More countries, teams, more money and that is it. There are a lot of more direct benefits than the auxiliary benefits. So at the end of the day if for example Africa is given 10 slots in the allotment, we can now have small countries like Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde thinking of going to the World Cup. 

“So we need a change. Ahmad Ahmad is 57, which shows that he is going to be a major bridge between the young generation of football administrators and the older generations of administrators.

“I'm one of those that believe Hayatau has tried and should be given a befitting exit, he should be accorded an appreciable level of respect, and he should be given an honorary role like life president. So that is what I feel. I can assure you 100 percent that Ahmad Ahmad will win the election. 

“I'm calling from South Africa, I came in this morning (Thursday) and as soon as I landed it was meeting all the way. About 15 federation presidents are here with me now and we are planning trip to Harare, from there we move to Kampala then to Rwanda to Dakar. We are really working, unless otherwise I believe Ahmad Ahmad will win,” he assured.