The ceremony which awarded Africa’s best footballers and administrators was interlaced with musical performances from some artistes from the continent.

There were 7 Nigerian act, one Togolese, one Congolese, and two Ghanaian musicians (Kidi and Efya) on stage on the night.

Shatta Wale who was only billed to perform was missing in action. He told Zylofon FM in an interview that he failed to perform because he was wrongly approached for the deal.

However, a statement signed by the CAF President says Aiteo, who are the headline sponsors would be in the right position to explain why that happened.

Read the full statement below:

 CAF EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO GHANA AND PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Ghana President His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for attending the AITEO CAF Awards 2017 in Accra last night.

We would like to acknowledge his extraordinary contribution to the event that made it lively as his thought-provoking message touched on some of the key things impacting the game in Africa.

We would also like to thank the former President of Ghana, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo as well as Madam Clar Weah, the in-coming First Lady of Liberia, for representing her husband His Excellency George Weah at the event.

We want to thank all the dignitaries that took the time out of their busy schedules to attend the event and also to the people of Ghana for the big turnout.

For the first time in the history of this awards ceremony, the legends of African football played a major role as they turned up in their numbers to grace the occasion.

For those who were present and for those who could not come, we are grateful and we would like to assure them that we will deepen their contribution to the development of the game in Africa.

Their presence helped to make this event a great success and their enthusiasm and positive spirit helped make our time together very productive.

For the nominees and award winners, we would like to congratulate all of them as they deserve the recognition they got. We want to encourage them and all the footballers across Africa to work harder this year to continue to hoist the flag of Africa wherever they find themselves.

We would to thank all clubs that released their players for the event particularly Liverpool Football Club of England for their outspoken show of respect for African football by releasing their top players to attend the event even though they have an important matches few hours after the event in Accra.

Our sponsors AITEO deserve big commendation as their significant support ensured the fantastic display last night. While praising their efforts we will be seeking an explanation from AITEO over the line-up of musicians for the event.

We had agreed with them, in pursuit of continental spread of the performers, to ensure a regional balance and a strong local representation of at least two musicians from the host nation Ghana – Kidi and Shatta Wale.

However, that did not happen and there is the need for an explanation from them on why that was the case in order to make next year’s event more successful.

CAF President

Ahmad

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By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The change will take effect from 2019 when Cameroon hosts it.

The 55 members of the committee met in Rabat, Morocco earlier this week to discuss the growth of African football and the possibility of expanding the tournament as well as changing the timing and scheduling of the showpiece competition.

The CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad hinted on Wednesday that some of the discussion at the symposium could be implemented within days and this is the first of many major changes expected to take place in the continent’s football.

This development would mean that the qualifying rounds for that tournament will be adjusted to accommodate all 24 teams, with the main tournament structure also taking a different shape.

The decision to increase the slots which had received mixed reactions from the football fraternity is said to be aimed at crafting new and innovative ways of making the competition more attractive.

Meanwhile, Cameroon risks losing out in hosting the tournament as it is still behind in its preparations.

Some have suggested that the tournament will be moved to Morrocco if the West African nation is unable to meet the deadline to complete its preparations.

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By: Daniel Koranteng/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This was recommended by CAF’s Marketing and TV team on Wednesday at the two-day African Football Symposium in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

The team said it had agreed on the increasing of the AFCON teams “from 16 to 24 and to have from 20 to 21 African teams in addition to 3 or 4 invitees from other continents”.

Amongst proposal also includes taking the 2023 edition to countries who already have the infrastructure and have money to stage a grand competition.

Countries that we were put on the table included U.S.A or Qatar who will be hosting the 2022 edition of the World Cup thus will have the facilities available.

CAF Marketing team are looking to create new and innovative ways to make Africa’s flagship competition more attractive but these recommendations will first have to be passed by the executive committee.

There has been a long standing debate about the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations with European clubs complaining about key players leaving in the middle of the season.

There are 55 CAF executive committee members in Rabat Morocco for the historic Symposium.

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By: Rahman Osman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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His election in March ended Cameroonian Issa Hayatou’s 29-year reign.

“I’ve refused a Caf salary for the simple reason it doesn’t respect good administration,” he told BBC Sport.

“The salaries of all Caf employees, from administrators to the executive committee and president, all have to be transparent.”

The 57-year-old from Madagascar held his first senior Caf meetings on Monday ahead of the Fifa Congress on Thursday 11 May.
Key among the topics being discussed are how to reform Caf.

“The reform of the administration is a very important point – everyone must know what is happening” said Ahmad.

“First we must review the standards of management so that we can apply the reforms.

Ahmad, who goes by a single name, says there is much work to be done – in lots of areas – to make Caf work “as it should.

“I’m sorry to tell you when I was part of the Caf Executive Committee there was no separation of powers – the judicial body, the executive one and the congress – and we have to respect the independence of each body,” he continued.
“There is a big tendency to monopolise power in the executive committee.

“It has to be reviewed and reformed with new statutes for Caf so that everyone can concentrate on their proper tasks.

Ahmad has also voiced concerns about the popularity of their flagship Africa Cup of Nations tournament saying it’s in danger of being overshadowed by the African Nations Championship (CHAN) which is for locally based players.

He says in light of these concerns, there will also be a full review of all the Caf competitions, and as such, a symposium will be organised to discuss the future of the events.

“The symposium will be made up of representatives from all parts of African football so we can discuss what we are going to do in all the competitions – Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations], CHAN, the youth tournaments and the women’s events,” he explained.

Ahmad said he was particularly keen to address issues such as dwindling numbers of spectators at recent tournaments, and players increasingly finding themselves in compromised situations with their clubs during Nations Cups.
“We need to take into account their situation. We must ensure that the Nations Cup doesn’t destroy their careers,” he insisted.

“So we are going to review all of that and we will take a decision that suits everyone so that this competition is valued again and attracts more resources and attract bigger audiences in Africa.”

Ahmad also spoke about giving more power to the presidents of the individual federations, describing them as the “Sovereign Body” – who “have to make the big decisions for the confederation.”

Ahmad has promised to arrange a new Caf congress in due course in order to validate the proposed changes.

He also wants to look at the re-investment of Caf resources to aid the development of football across the continent, stressing that “Caf is not here to make money to enrich itself.”

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Source: BBC

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The gentle yet cunning man; again proved that everything is possible, and with the right knots and strings pulled, one can attain unprecedented success.

Who is Ahmad Ahmad?

The new CAF President, born and raised in Madagascar is a football person. He had a quiet footballing career and an even muter coaching career. He never quite made it to a big club or top tier level as a player or a coach.

He moved on to the administration level and became the Chairman/President of the Malagasy Football Association. Ahmad surprised the football world when he announced his intention of challenging Hayatou, a man who had reigned in that top job for nearly three decades, specifically Twenty-Nine years (29).

The unsung hero of Hayatou’s down fall: Philip Chiyangwa:

Much credit must be given to Phillip Chiyangwa, Campaign Manager of Ahmad Ahmad, and head of Zimbabwe’s FA. He was very instrumental in getting members of Cosafa to back Ahmad. That was the turning point.

Secondly, he convinced new FIFA President Gianni Infantino to strategically visit Accra and other influential football cities in Africa to sell out the need to oust Hayatou this time around.

That was certainly music in Infantino’s ears because he is also on a campaign to break all Blatters strong hold. Infantino knows how powerful Hayatou is; and he will only be able to carry out his proposed projects if a big bloc like Africa is behind him.

The visit to Accra particularly was seen by insiders as a move to shore up the plan to remove Hayatou from office despite several denials by Infantino that he was not meddling with CAF politics, his presence in Accra showed that he was key in the plans.

Issa Hayatou sensed his ending with the visit of Infantino and his speech some few hours before the elections confirmed he knew there were superior forces working to bring a long era of leadership to an end. But there was little he could do about it.

Below is the statement he delivered at the congress:

“African Football decision must be left for Africans “this was what Hayatou said when he delivered a speech few minutes to the voting at the CAF congress.
Infantino was present at the birthday celebration of Phillip Chiyangwa, where he met many African FA heads who were in support of Ahmad Ahmad mainly because Philip Chiyangwa had sold out the idea of the need for a change now.

Issa Hayatou’s biggest mistake:

Hayatou’s decision to ditch Kwesi Nyantakyi and back Tanzania’s Leodegar Tenga in the FIFA Council looked to have backfired, and despite a last minute attempt to correct the mistake, it was too little too late.

Several anti-Hayatou outspoken FA leaders like Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick, Musa Bility and Isha Johansen all paid unannounced visits to Ghana’s FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi who had jumped camp from Hayatou to Ahmad Ahmad after finding out that Hayatou was throwing his weight behind Leodegar Tenga.

DR Congo FA boss, Constant Omari, a former Hayatou henchman, who was booted out for his support for Infantino, was also spotted in Accra.
This shows that they were central to the campaign and strategy to oust Hayatou and the form and guide of it was nailed when some of them departed straight from Accra to Ethiopia for the election.

The plan looks to have worked to perfection as all the people in the Accra group won their elections with most thoroughly thrashing Hayatou’s loyalists including Ahmad’s famous victory over the big man.

Issa Hayatou not entirely the devil he has been made:

Hayatou though vilified by many on the continent will leave office with some achievements:

Mainly he was able to get more World Cup slot for Africa; it was in his time that the slots increased from 2 to 5.

South Africa hosted the World Cup under his reign, the first time an African country had been given the opportunity. The AFCON was expanded to 16 countries.

Lowest Point:

His lowest point was when he was reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee for taking of money unethically from a marketing firm. That was an all-time low and broke his credibility beyond repair.

Ahmad Ahmad’s Change:

“I am the only one who could dare present a candidacy for the change. And I am vying to bring this change.”

These were the words of Ahmad before the election. We live to see the change he brings to African Football.

Previous CAF Presidents:

The story of African football’s leadership started with Egyptian Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem in the early 70’s.

His tenure though very beautiful lasted just a year. He was in office from 1957-1958.

Then came tough-talking Abdel Aziz Moustafa, also from Egypt. He will forever be remembered for kick-starting the long tenure in office, he lasted a decade, from 1958-1968.

Abdel Halim Muhammad from Sudan followed, and was in office from 1968-1972, and was succeeded by Yidnekatchew Tessema in 1972-1987 from Ethiopia.

Tessema’s 15-year tenure was the longest ever the Confederation of African football had witnessed at that time.

Abdel Halim Muhammad (Sudan) took charge from 1987-1988 before the grand arrival of Issa Hayatou (Cameroon) the longest serving CAF President of 29 years.
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By: Rahman Osman/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Email: [email protected]

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His victory ends Mr. Hayatou’s 29-year reign as president of the Confederation of African Football.

Ahmad Ahmad polled 34 votes, against Issa Hayatou’s 20 votes.

Issa Hayatou, who has been in office since 1988 was hoping to remain in office for his eighth term.

The departure of Hayatou is a huge change for African football and the 70-year-old will also lose his Fifa position and his place on the ruling council of world football’s governing body.

Ahmad told BBC Sport after his victory that: “I can’t talk at this time. Only one thing – I thank God, I thank my team… we worked hard but we won. That was the first step. The second step is to develop African football. Some days I thought I would win – today I didn’t (think I would win). When you try to do something, you mean that you can do it. If I can’t do it, I never stand. This is sweet victory. When you work hard for years and months and you succeed, that is great.”

Ahmed has said that his first task will be to introduce a new code of ethics that will effectively check stakeholders in football on the continent.

He has also promised to modernise the body and make it more transparent.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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