February 24 – Zimbabwe FA president Philip Chiyangwa (pictured), head of the COSAFA region of 14 states, is rapidly emerging as the kingmaker in next month’s ballot for Confederation of African Football president.
Chiyangwa invited 24 African football association (FA) presidents, plus FIFA boss Gianni Infantino,, to a meeting in Harare today, ostensibly for a celebration to mark his 58th birthday.
But it is common knowledge that he is backing Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad against veteran incumbent Issa Hayatou in next month’s election.
Hayatou, pointedly, was not invited and CAF says the meeting, reportedly used as a platform to drum up support for Ahmad, was designed to “destabilise” the confederation.
Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has already said he will vote for Ahmad who will need 28 votes to unseat Hayatou and Liberia FA president Musa Bility has now announced that he, too, is backing the challenger to Hayatou’s throne
Bility once coveted the FIFA presidency before failing to pass an integrity test. He said he was backing Ahmad because he wanted to see change after Hayatou’s reign that has lasted almost three decades.
“CAF is not a kingdom,” said Bility.
Infantino is understood to be wielding considerable influence in Ahmad’s favour having fallen out with Hayatou in the wake of last year’s FIFA presidential election. According to Pinnick, the pair have “post-election differences which are irreconcilable”.
Pinnick acknowledged that Hayatou could still win, but added: “I will definitely work with him if he wins, but my prayer is we need a bridge builder and that person is Ahmad.”
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