Issa Hayatou, the long standing president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), will be vacating his position as the head of African football’s governing body. This follows his loss to Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar in the just concluded CAF presidential elections.
The elections were held as a secret ballot, in which the 54 member nations of CAF cast their votes. Ahmad received 34 votes, while Hayatou could only get 20 in his favour.
Hayatou’s reign as president of CAF lasted 29 years; he assumed the position in 1988 after the retirement of his predecessor, Ydnekatchew Tessema of Ethiopia. He has been successful in six previous re-election campaigns, strengthening his grip on power with each victory. This year’s election was however keenly contested, with Ahmad’s candidature inspiring an unusually strong push to replace Hayatou as head of African football.
Ahmad, 57, is in his third term as president of Madagascar’s Football Association.
