CAF clears four candidates for presidential race, declares Ahmad ineligible

The Confederation of African Football has given four candidates the go-ahead to participate in the race for the body’s President.

However, embattled current President Ahmad Ahmad has been declared ineligible to run for a second term.

Ahmad is facing corruption charges and has been banned from football by FIFA.

CAF announced in a press release made available to Naija Times on Thursday night that its Governance Commission conducted eligibility tests on the five candidates before approving four, two of whom require further checks.

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The two candidates with full approval are Augustine Emmanuel Senghor from Senegal and Jacques Anouma from Cote d’Ivoire, while Ahmed Yahya from Mauritania and South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe are still being assessed.

Senghor is a 55-year-old lawyer and President of the Senegalese Football Federation since August 2009 and member of the CAF executive committee since February 2018.

Anouna, who has been a prominent figure in CAF politics for years, is 69 and former President of the Ivorian Football Federation and former member of the FIFA executive committee.

Motsepe, 58, is a businessman and owner of one of Africa’s most successful clubs in recent years, Mamelodi Sundowns; while Yahya is 44 years old and President of the Mauritania Football Federation.

The CAF commission met in Cairo on Tuesday and Wednesday to conduct the eligibility checks.

There will be a hearing in Cairo on 28 January where the candidacy of Motsepe and Yahya will be either approved or rejected.

The committee also approved 13 candidates to vie for seats on the executive committee. 

The candidates are Wadie Jary (Tunisia), Mustapha Ishola Raji (Liberia), Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (Niger), Edwin Simeon- Okraku (Ghana), Adoum Djibrine (Chad), Suleiman Waberi (Djibouti), Isayas Jira (Ethiopia), Feizal Ismael Sidat (Mozambique), Elvis Raja Chetty (Seychelles), Maclean Cortez Letshwithi (Botswana), Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros), Patricia Rajeriarison (Madagascar), Lawson Hogban-Latré-Kayti Edzona (Togo).

A new CAF President to succeed Ahmad Ahmad will be elected for a four-year term during the 43rd elective Ordinary General Assembly of the governing body scheduled for March 12, 2021 in Rabat, Morocco.

CAF also stated that candidates for the FIFA Council are going through eligibility checks at the level of FIFA bodies and the result will be communicated in due course.