CAF ELECTIVE CONGRESS: HAYATOU’S SCHEMES TO REMAIN PRESIDENT

The CAF (Confederation of African Football) Extraordinary Congress scheduled for September 3 in the Seychelles has introduced a proposal by the Algerian Football Federation that could significantly impact the upcoming presidential election. The current president, Issa Hayatou, is seeking reelection, but the proposed amendment stipulates that candidates must be or have been a member of the CAF Executive Committee. This move has already sidelined 39 African countries, as the CAF Executive Committee currently comprises only 15 countries, leaving many nations unable to field candidates for the CAF presidency.

The proposal, if accepted, would restrict prominent football nations like Nigeria and Senegal, which have represented Africa in major international competitions. Nigeria has a notable history at the World Cup, reaching the round of 16 and winning Olympic gold, while Senegal made a memorable run to the quarter-finals in the 2002 World Cup. Additionally, emerging football nations like Liberia, Benin, Niger, and Burkina Faso would also be ineligible to run for the presidency.

The proposed amendment has potential implications for the race for Issa Hayatou’s seventh term as president (he has been in office since 1988). Jacques Anouma, who has declared his candidacy, could be affected by this amendment, eliminating the former president of the Ivorian Football Federation. However, it appears that other members of the Executive Committee, including Suketu Patel and those perceived as close to Hayatou, do not intend to run.

It’s crucial to note that the proposal is still an amendment, and its fate will be decided on September 3 by the presidents of other associations. The current members of the CAF Executive Committee, along with their nationalities, are:

1. Issa Hayatou (Cameroon, president)
2. Suketu Patel (Seychelles, 1st vice-president)
3. Almamy Kabele Camara (Guinea, 2nd vice-president)
4. Adoum Djibrine (Chad, member)
5. Mohamed Raouraoua (Algeria, member)
6. Magdi Shams El Din (Sudan, member)
7. Tarek Bouchamaoui (Tunisia, member)
8. Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia, member)
9. Kwesi Nyantakyi (Ghana, member)
10. Constant Selemani Omari (DR Congo, member)
11. Leodegar Tenga (Tanzania, member)
12. Slim Aloulou (Tunisia, co-opted member)
13. Molefi Oliphant OIG (South Africa, co-opted member)
14. Anouma Jacques (Ivory Coast, FIFA Executive Committee member)
15. Hani Aboo Rida (Egypt, FIFA Executive Committee member)
16. Hicham El Amrani (Morocco, Secretary General)