I thought I would lose, reveals newly elected CAF President Ahmad Ahmad
Newly elected CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, is startled at his landslide victory over Issa Hayatou who had been in the helms of the African Football affairs for 29 years.
The Madagascar Football Association chief, Ahmad, had 34 out of the 54 votes in the Thursday election in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa to be elected the new CAF President.
Ahmad Ahmad who has been the Madagascar Football President since 2003 says his focus has now shifted to the second step of his plan having achieved the first.
“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).”
The result was greeted by cheers at the Caf congress as Ahmad was carried on the shoulders of jubilant supporters to the podium after the result was announced.
VIDEO: Zimbabwe football officials lift Ahmad Ahmad in the air as they congratulate him for defeating Issa Hayatou. #CAFElections pic.twitter.com/w1lWN8mbV9
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) March 16, 2017
Ahmad later added: “When you try to do something, you mean that you can do it. If I can’t do it, I never stand.
“This is sweet victory. When you work hard for years and months and you succeed, that is great.”
Nigeria’s Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick emerges as CAF executive committee member.
Pinnick will represent the West Zone B after defeating Benin Republic’s Moucharafou Anjorin in Thursday’s election.
Pinnick, who is a supporter of new CAF President Ahmad Ahmad, got 32 votes to Anjorin’s 17 to get a seat on CAF’s highest decision-making organ.