It is no longer news that Ahmad Ahmad, the head of the Madagascar Football Association, is the new Confederation of African Football (CAF) president.
Ahmad ousted the veteran Cameroonian leader Issa Hayatou after 29 years in office by 34 votes to the incumbent’s 20 at the election in Addis Ababa.
The news of Hayatou’s was received with mixed feelings in his native Cameroon.
While some of his compatriots would have loved to see him direct proceedings at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon would have hosted during his reign for the first time, others are of the opinion he had overstayed his welcome.
Lucas Teneng, the publisher of The Reporter newspaper, said he would have loved his compatriot to pick up another mandate — firstly, because the country is hosting the next AFCON…
''But on second thought, I realised I was being myopic and personal about an election that aims at improving football in the continent,” he told Nation Sport.
''Football, in particular, is a game that involves the youth and should have an energetic and dynamic person to handle its affairs.”
The football aficionado added that after seven mandates of 29 years “one is bound to be bereft of new ideas”.
Before the election, Samuel Eto’o, a former captain of the Indomitable Lions and current Antalyaspor striker told Jeune Afrique that “Hayatou had done a lot to the development of football on the continent but the football body needed change”.
Other reactions
''Africa has made a decision, we are moving forward with football and we have chosen change over the last leadership,” Liberia Football Association chairman, Musa Bility, said.
''Ahmad is crying for all of us. I have been through struggle - I have been suspended. Today I am very proud of the effort and I want to thank all of my colleagues for making this possible. We have proved to the world that we are ready for the change that is blowing in football across the world.”
Sierra Leone FA president, Isha Johansen, also spoke on the election.
''I'm happy, elated, it is great. This is the change we were talking about, it is good for African football,” he said.
''I want people to understand that this was not a campaign against personalities, this was about changing the face and image of the African continent through football - and changing African football for the better.''
The Lesotho sports and recreation commission president, Khiba Mohoanyane, was not left behind.
“I think Hayatou should have addressed the congress and said 'people, look I need your support - I might have wronged you here and there but please forgive me',” he said.
“People must confess when the need arises. But Hayatou did a lot for football and the dues he deserves must be given to him.”
Malawi FA boss Walter Nyamilandu also has this to say:
“The outcome the least expected but some of us saw it coming and I am very pleased with it,” he said.
“We now have a new president coming from Cosafa (Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) and it's now time to see new things.”
The victor speaks
“When you try to do something, you mean that you can do it,” Ahamd told reporters after the vote.
“If I can’t do it, I never stand.”
The final words belong to…Hayatou
“It is not that bad!”
After 29 years at the helm of affairs, surely it is not that bad!