Ahmad Beats Hayatou To Emerge New CAF President

By Augustine Akhilomen

Former Madagascar FA Chairman, Ahmad Ahmad has emerged winner of Thursday’s Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Presidential election after defeating long serving and incumbent, Issa Hayatou.

The CAF has only ever had five presidents in its 60-year history and the last time a new leader was appointed was way back in 1988.Hayatou, in charge for nearly three decades, has often been re-elected unopposed. On the two occasions when he did face a challenge, he won with landslides amongst the electorate of presidents of Africa’s football associations.

In the election, which was held at Caf’s 39th General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ahmad defeated Hayatou in a shock result after picking up 34 votes to the 70-year-old’s 20.

Hayatou had been in power since 1988 when he replaced Abdel Halim Mohammad, and has overseen significant growth in the continental game and in Caf’s standing within the global football community.

Caf former presidents
Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem (1957-1958)
Abdel Aziz Moustafa (1958-1968)
Abdel Halim Muhammad (1968-1972)
Yidnekatchew Tessema (1972-1987)