By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja – The Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Obinna Ogba, on Tuesday advised delegate to the CAF election to vote a candidate that will support Nigeria’s agenda.
Ogba told newsmen at the end of an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive, which was convened by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.
According to him, football politics is a game and I congratulate the man (Ahmad Ahmad), who has the courage to challenge the incumbent (Issa Hayatou).
“It takes a man that has courage to challenge an incumbent, so I congratulate the man, no matter the outcome of the result,’’ he said.
Speaking on the candidature of Ahmad’s capacity to win the CAF president’s position, Ogba said “Ahmad win depends on his supporters.”
“Ahmad can win the president of CAF if he plays his game well. And if people that are supporting him are strong enough to win him the position, why not,’’ he said.
Ogba said people saddle with the responsibility of representing Nigeria should ensure to negotiate for the country.
He said that Nigeria should vote for a CAF president that would protect the interest of Nigeria and push the country’s football forward.
“We need somebody, who will relate with us and carry the country along. Before voting we should first think of what the incumbent has done for Nigeria.
“Think of the years he has spent and how long he has carried Nigeria, since he was the acting president of FIFA what did he do?
“We must take all these things into consideration before voting,’’ he said.
Ogba said that the NFF should be allowed to make the best decision on whom to support in the forthcoming CAF election.
NAN reports that Madagascar’s football boss, Ahmad, is challenging the longest-serving Hayatou for the CAF presidency at the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF, slated for March 16 in Ethiopia.
The Cameroonian Hayatou, 70, who was first elected in 1988, is seeking an eighth consecutive term as head of African football.(
