So, the reign of the longest living monarch in world football has finally come to an end. But who, with all the handwritings on the wall, can be truly surprised that Issa Hayatou, the strong man of African football has exited office in a dramatic fashion.
The choice was easy giving the ArabSpring sweeping across global football. It has been coming, except that the Cameroonian and his loyalists either couldn’t decode the message or felt football in Africa was immune to the rampaging hurricane .
Paradoxically, African despots claim popularity even when in most cases they cling to power through flawed and dubious electoral processes. Not a few stakeholders throughout the globe believed 29years in the saddle for an individual, no matter how ingenious his intentions and achievements maybe, could become a burden. Issa Hayatou’s case provides a good example.
Pervasive as the cry for change was, the challenge remained who would take the bull by the horn. The discontent was palpable, but they were mere rants by ‘wailing wailers’, apologies to our common parlance here.
Then came the dynamite, which always comes in small packages. A diminutive 57 year-old, almost of same size as his native county, Madagascar, an island in Southern Africa, finally showed up. His name is equally short; Ahmad. But he has a big heart. Courageous, resilient and daring.
He became a rallying point for the young generation of African football administrators equally craving for change but lacked the audacity for a revolution. Ahmad became the David. But unlike the Biblical David, the prophet god of soccer sent this time to persuade Ahmad to set forth is Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA. Both men knew they were going to confront a Goliath in Hayatou, hence their adoption of the Machiavellian principles.
Regardless of protocol, Infantino, the man with dual citizenship, embarked on diplomatic shuttles across Africa, in most instances, without the knowledge and presence of Issa Hayatou , who ought to be his host on African soil. The plot was deft and tenacious, with the Cameroonian’s back on the wall. Who cares now? The stronghold of world’s longest serving football boss has been broken and the feeling across the continent is as boisterous as it is precarious.
Ahmad has ascended the throne, beating his chest. “When you try to do something, you mean that you can do it. If I can’t do it, I never stand,” he declared. Many are of the opinion that he could be referring to fears being expressed in some quarters over the capacity of the man we have entrusted with the future of African football. This group of cynics quip that the level of football development in his tiny country which he has presided over since 2003 without much to show, does not do justice to his credentials.
Similarly, fingers are pointing to his close relationship with FIFA leadership, especially with Infantino and the Senegalese Secretary General. Will such friendly ties be a blessing or a curse? Won’t the new CAF boss be a ball boy thereby undermining the independence and interest of Africa?
However, his loyalists, and they are many, say the reverse will be the case as Africa is expected to leverage on such cordial relationship . Those who helped to effect the change will pull the strings in our favour, hopefully.
Change in Africa? That maybe a burden for us back home in Nigeria. Those in the helm of affairs in our country,s football may have supported the change in CAF oblivious of the spillover effects in national federations where the morass of mediocrity is begging for equal treatment . The brutal truth is that change must come to administration of the game here.
It’s cheap to deride the level of football development in Madagascar, the home of Ahmad, but how have our exploits in global and continental football impacted on the administration of the beautiful game here? The miserable fact is that the world acknowledges our abundant talent, but also quick to point to our notorious lack of organization.
Events leading to the 39th CAF elective congress lay credence to this. The mitigation for the discordant tunes and missteps is the victory of Amaju Pinnick as CAF executive committee member, defying all odds. But must we display this unenviable characteristic to the outside world all the time?
Sadly , the federal government , through the out of sorts minister of sports, clearly demonstrated lack of understanding of the issues involved and the dynamics in international sports politics. Officials of the Nigeria state even implied that Cameroonians would allow insurgents to overrun their own country because Nigeria failed to vote for Hayatou. The cheerleaders from my country came up with the usual refrain”FIFA will ban Nigeria “fallacy.
Equally disgusting was the posturing of the Pinnick led NFF board, who were playing hide and seek.
Africa has parted ways with Hayatou . Whatever he did, good or bad is now history. The time for a breath of fresh air is upon the new kids on block. Ahmad, Pinnick and members of the liberation movement must walk the talk. CONGRATULATIONS Guys!
KELECHI EMETEOLE NEEDS HELP
Former Nigerian international and coach of many national and club teams have been diagnosed with throat cancer and needs our help for treatment abroad.
Account No: Kelechi Emeteole A1007868369 UBA. Contact no: 08037892942