With the news that President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ahmad Ahmad has been banned by the Ethics Committee of the global body FIFA, the race to the controversial seat has now been narrowed to four contestants.
Ahmad, 60, was found guilty of breaching article 15 (duty of loyalty), article 20 (offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) and article 25 (abuse of position) of the 2020 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics as well as article 28 (Misappropriation of funds) of the 2018 edition of the COE.
The investigation into Ahmad’s conduct in his position as President of CAF during the period from 2017 to 2019 concerned various CAF-related governance issues, including the organisation and financing of an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, his involvement in CAF’s dealings with the sports equipment company Tactical Steel and other activities.
Monday’s news quite effectively rules out the Madagascar national from another term as African football’s top dog but there still lies a big battle for the crown when elections are held in 2021.
Prominent among the contestants and early favourite for the seat is South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe who owns PSL side Mamelodi Sundowns, a club that has enjoyed much success domestically and internationally in recent times.
The remaining three are from West Africa and they include serial contender Jacques Anouma from Coted’voire and two men who currently serve as Presidents of their countries’ Football Federation; Augustin Senghor of Senegal and Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania
Ahmad’s ban comes into effect as from today, Monday, 23rd November, 2020 with the body’s 1st Vice President, Congolese Omari Selemani continuing as interim President until the next elections in March, 2021.
