By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos – Former Technical Director, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Tunde Disu, on Friday advised the new CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad to ensure positive change in the manner things were done in the organisation’s administration from tournament hosting to officiating.
Disu, Chairman of Lagos Junior League (J-League), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Ahmad’s victory should be majorly celebrated by the Anglophone countries as against the Francophones who have dominated CAF since the emergence of Hayotou.
“There are lots of politicking in CAF which has not favoured the Anglophone countries.
“Before now, it’s all about francophone countries, but now, it is an advantage to us that we now have someone from Anglophone country at the helm of affairs.
“The francophone countries virtually took over all the committees in CAF and this is not healthy. The new president should change this trend.
“There should be a positive change in CAF in the way things are done from hosting of tournaments to officiating and others,’’ he said.
Disu, Technical Director of the Atlanta ’96 team, told NAN that it was heartwarming that Nigeria went ahead to support the emergence of Ahmad to the CAF presidency.
“It is good that we supported the man up to this stage while others dropped their support. For us to have supported him, he should have trust in Nigerians.
“Ahmad’s emergence should bring a lot of development in football. He has promised change in CAF and we should support him in that direction.
“Hayatou has stayed too long and that is not good for football development in Africa. Now we are expecting a lot of changes in CAF and a change in the old order to new era.
“There are lots of work to do and I believe Ahmad coming from such a humble background will encourage smaller countries to develop their football,’’ he said
NAN reports that Madagascar’s Ahmad defeated Cameroonian Isah Hayatou with 34 to 20 votes to dislodge the incumbent who has been at the helm of CAF affairs since 1988 in CAF elections on Thursday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nigeria’s representative and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, also defeated Benin Republic’s Moucharafou Anjorin for a seat on the CAF executive.
