How I brushed Hayatou aside — Ahmad

NEW Caf president, Ahmad Ahmad, on Thursday,  took time to explain how he brushed aside what he described as a political maneuver to end the 29-year reign of  Issa Hayatou as CAF which had earlier awarded the AFCON U-17 to Madagascar withdrew the hosting rights and awarded it to Gabon.

“Withdrawing the tournament from Madagascar came at the time I declared myself a candidate for the CAF presidency.”

An elated Ahmad told BBC he wants to savour his hard-earned victory.

“I can’t talk at this time. Only one thing – I thank God, I thank my team.

“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),” he said.

However, one thing which is certain in African football administration is that Hayatou will remain the longest-serving CAF president, as the reform of the CAF statutes last year has endorsed a maximum of three four-year terms for any president of the body meaning 12 years remain the terminal point.