Madagascar Football Association boss Ahmad Ahmad vowed to fulfil his campaign promise to take African football to greater heights after he ended Isaa Hayatou’s 29-year reign as CAF president in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday.
Hayatou, who first became CAF boss in 1988, said he was not disappointed with his performance in the election.
“It is not that bad,” BBC Sport quoted the former sprinter as saying.
The 57-year-old Ahmad won 34 of the 54 votes in the election, with his 70-year-old Cameroonian rival Hayatou clearing the remaining 20.
Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick, who belongs to Ahmad’s camp, sealed his place in the CAF executive committee after dethroning his fierce opponent Moucharafou Anjorin of Benin Republic.
Pinnick polled 32 votes against the incumbent’s 17 in the election to become the third Nigerian to become a member of the federation’s executive after Oyo Orok Oyo (deceased) and Amos Adamu. Former NFF presidents Ibrahim Galadima and Aminu Maigari both failed in their attempts to occupy the role.
Ahmad said he was determined for “change” at CAF, promising that football on the continent would develop fast.
“When you try to do something, you mean that you can do it,” Ahmad said after the vote. “If I can’t do it, I never stand.”
He added, “We worked hard but we won. That was the first step. The second step is to develop African football.
“Some days I thought I would win — today I didn’t (think I would win).
“This is sweet victory. When you work hard for years and months and you succeed, that is great.’’
Meanwhile, sports minister Solomon Dalung has congratulated Pinnick on his victory.
Dalung said in a statement, “When I became minister, I asked why there was no Nigerian representative in the executive committee of CAF. With a population of over 170 million people there was no way the CAF executive committee will be constituted without Nigerians as stakeholders. I encouraged the federation to try and ensure that they are represented, hence our support for the president of the NFF.
“This is a big achievement for Nigeria and our re-entry into African football politics.”