Augustin Senghor: "CAF is at a crossroads"
Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegalese Football Federation, in 2018. AFP / Seyllou
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
4 min
Augustin Senghor, boss of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has submitted his candidacy for the election of the president of the African Football Confederation (CAF) which will take place on March 12, 2021 in Rabat.
He answered RFI's questions on Monday, November 16.
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Augustin Senghor was the fifth candidate declared at the last minute to chair the African football body.
"
I have values of loyalty
", immediately admitted the president of the Senegalese Football Federation on the Radio Foot Internationale program.
He had previously stated that he would not appear against the current outgoing.
"
The procedure before President Ahmad's Fifa Ethics Committee
(still a candidate for his own succession, Editor's note)
made me go there after having discussed with colleagues of the Executive Committee
", specifies the lawyer who saw Ahmad represent without difficulty.
"
CAF needs modernization
"
“
CAF is at a crossroads, we want to rebuild this house to get out of the difficulties despite Ahmad's work.
CAF needs modernization and stability and I think I am the one who can bring about these changes
”, suggests the mayor of Gorée, elected to the CAF Executive Committee in February 2018. Augustin Senghor has among others the support of The Gambia and the Gabon.
“
During these four years a lot of good things have been done.
We were faced with the novelty and there was the will for a new dynamic at CAF.
I regret that a lot of noise has been made to obscure our work,
”deplores Augustin Senghor.
“
There is a lack of solidarity and a way to politicize CAF too much.
You shouldn't shoot yourself in the foot,
”he adds, no doubt, referring to the arrival of Fatma Samoura as FIFA's general delegate to CAF between August 2019 and January 2020.
"
Working hand in hand with Fifa
"
Augustin Senghor wants to “
work hand in hand with Fifa
”.
“
We cannot do otherwise.
It is very important to have a good relationship.
We have to frame our collaborations.
There was some misunderstanding.
Fifa wanted to help by making Africa a priority.
We must lay the foundations for a clear and healthy collaboration
”, he concedes.
About a CAN every four years, strongly recommended by Fifa, Augustin Senghor does not see it as certain "
an injunction
" on the part of the world football body.
“
We have to think about what to do.
But you have to be careful before deciding on a CAN every four years.
In any case, it's up to CAF to decide.
We have to think about the right formula,
”replies Augustin Senghor.
Three candidates from the same region do not seem to be problematic for Augustin Senghor.
“
When we talk about African football we think of West Africa.
And there has never been a president of our zone since the CAF exists.
The context dictated this.
Even if there are three of us, the important thing is that they are quality people
, ”concludes Augustin Senghor.
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