Presidential race heats up as Hayatou challenger outlines vision

fiifi anaman

February 17, 2017 10:35 AM

Issa Hayatou's 29-year reign at the apex of African football is under threat as CAF goes to the polls next month

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CAF presidential candidate Ahmad Ahmad has outlined his vision for African footballs governing body.

The Madagascar FA head confirmed his bid to challenge incumbent Issa Hayatou in January, and has since received the backing of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA).

READ MORE:Issa Hayatou

The 57-year-old, who is Hayatou's sole challenger, says he wants to ensure "transparency and reinvestment" in the running of CAF as well as to "place football at the heart of CAF's concerns and dealings".

Ahmad will hope his message appeals to other FA heads before the elections in Addis Abbaba on March 16.

READ MORE:CAF President

Hayatou, 70, is seeking an astonishing 8th term as the head of African Football - he has been in power since 1988.

The veteran Cameroonian administrator initially said that his current term, which he won in 2013, would be his last, until CAF voted in April 2015 to change some of its statutes regarding the age limit of the presidency, thus paving way for him to stand again.

Ahmad, who is a member of the CAF Executive Committee - the only people allowed to compete - says that unseating Hayatou to become CAF's 6th President is possible.

READ MORE: Today in history

"In life, there is a limit," he told the BBC. "Typically in politics, everyone has his chance - maybe it is time."

CAF is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

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