FRA approves establishment of five new firms for investment fund management, SME financing    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    Egypt considers launching national platform to mobilise green financing for private-sector industrial transformation    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Egypt's ARC, Italy's AICS sign deal to boost wheat production    Gold prices edge higher on July 16th    Egypt stocks hit record highs in 2025 as reforms fuel rally: Cabinet    Egypt condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Syria    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Egypt, Mexico explore joint action on environment, sustainability    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt's PM urges BRICS to prioritise peace    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Era of FIFA veteran Hayatou under threat at African election
Published in Ahram Online on 14 - 03 - 2017

Issa Hayatou's reign could end this week after nearly 30 years as the head of the African soccer confederation and a top FIFA executive.
Hayatou, FIFA's most senior vice president due to his long service, faces what is predicted to be a tough election challenge - an unfamiliar situation for him - at the Confederation of African Football's general assembly in Ethiopia on Thursday. His opponent, the head of the Madagascan association, could provide African soccer with a new leader and a new direction for the first time since the late 1980s.
Defeat for Hayatou in the vote of CAF's 54 full member countries would not only remove him as president in Africa but also as a FIFA vice president and a member of its ruling council. Ahmad, the challenger from Madagascar, would replace Hayatou on the FIFA Council.
With a younger candidate calling for a more transparent CAF, and questioning the secrecy with which the organization has conducted financial deals, the 70-year-old Hayatou may be another veteran soccer leader pushed out by a desire for change emanating from the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal.
Ahmad, casting himself as the man to modernize CAF, is campaigning under the Twitter hashtag (hash)TogetherForChange. Hayatou, the son of a sultan from northern Cameroon, doesn't tweet and rarely gives interviews.
Hayatou, seeking an eighth term, enters the election weighed down by the threat of a criminal prosecution. The Egyptian Competition Authority has recommended that he and his secretary general be referred to court over a marketing and television rights deal worth a reported $1 billion.
CAF said allegations that it renewed its deal with French company Lagardere Sports without allowing competing bids from others were ''unsubstantiated'' and denies any wrongdoing. But the timing is terrible for Hayatou and he is vulnerable for the first time in a long time - although still defiant.
''If I believed that I will lose this election, I wouldn't have entered the race in the first place,'' Hayatou said on his arrival in Addis Ababa at the start of election week.
Hayatou's confidence shouldn't be ignored, with his longevity impressive: Sepp Blatter was still FIFA's secretary general when Hayatou took charge of African soccer. Current FIFA President Gianni Infantino was a teenager.
Hayatou was re-elected unopposed as CAF president in 2013, but he was only unopposed after he pushed through rule changes that allowed only members of his executive committee to stand against him, preventing a challenge from former FIFA executive committee member Jacques Anouma. Age limits for candidates were also removed, allowing Hayatou to be eligible for re-election this year. There was little opposition to him.
A reprimand by the International Olympic Committee in 2011 over money he received from former marketing company ISL in the 1990s also had little effect on Hayatou's control of CAF.
And although Ahmad's campaign team has claimed support from 35 countries - 28 votes guarantee victory - the public announcements of support for the challenger haven't matched that number.
''It is very difficult now to say how many countries are going to vote for me,'' Ahmad told The Associated Press on Tuesday. ''Nobody can know that at this moment. You campaign and if you believe in your work, only the vote will tell.''
Hayatou's influence, built over three decades leading the most popular sport in Africa and for many years FIFA's largest continental confederation, is still significant: Nigerian Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has publicly supported Ahmad, but Nigerian media reports suggest the government has ordered him to vote for Hayatou. The reason? Nigeria's political relationship with Cameroon.
Under the former track athlete, once a champion runner in Cameroon, African soccer has become more valuable, with the Lagardere deal a huge increase for CAF.
The question is, how many have benefited?
Ethiopia Football Federation president Junedin Basha said his country wants more representation at CAF and needs more investment.
''We have understood that protests (against Hayatou) have increased in recent days and months, saying African football should have developed more than its current status,'' Junedin said. ''Others say we should acknowledge what has been done so far. Anyway, we as a federation have decided who to vote for.''


Clic here to read the story from its source.