CAF Presidency: tensions around the eligibility of candidates
Mauritanian Ahmed Yahya, in 2019 © FFRIM
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
5 mins
Ahmed Yahya, one of the five declared candidates for the presidency of the African Football Confederation (CAF), criticized CAF after it deemed his candidacy admissible but "requiring additional checks".
The Mauritanian is in the same case as the South African Patrice Motsepe, while the case of the outgoing boss, Ahmad, has been challenged.
For the moment, only the Senegalese Augustin Senghor and the Ivorian Jacques Anouma are authorized to present themselves on March 12, 2021.
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Tensions are mounting over the election of the President of the African Football Confederation (CAF) scheduled for March 12, 2021 in Rabat.
Ahmed Yahya
, one of the five contenders for the post, raises his voice, three days after having seen his candidacy judged by
CAF
admissible but
"
requiring additional checks
"
.
He threatens the Cairo-based body "
to initiate any judicial and administrative action [...] to ensure the protection of [his] interests
" in this process which he considers marked by "
serious dysfunctions
".
Change of radical tone
This is a 180 degree turnaround.
Indeed, on January 7, the Mauritanian, like the South African
Patrice Motsepe
, had learned that his case was put on hold until January 28, date of a hearing organized by the Governance Commission of CAF.
On January 8, the boss of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (FFRIM) even "
[congratulated] the fact that [his] candidacy was deemed admissible
".
He also indicated that he "
would [respond] with enthusiasm to the hearing organized in Cairo
".
"Indignant amazement"
On January 10, the president of the FFRIM counter-attacks, however, in a letter addressed to the interim head of the administration (Secretary General) of CAF, Abdelmounaïm Bah.
"
I learned with indignant amazement that my candidacy would be the subject of a" partial validation ",
" he begins.
Ahmed Yahya then affirms pell-mell that
CAF's "
precise rules
" have been "
radically violated
", that the Confederation made its decision and announced it before the date initially planned (January 11), and that the latter has makes use of “
reckless communication around partial elements
”.
Ahmed Yahya, bitter, further believes that "
the interpretation of this announcement [...] leads to believe
" that he is "
ineligible
" and that this situation "also
allows some candidates to start their campaign and put themselves in value to voters
”three weeks in advance.
Patrice Motsepe in the countryside
Ahmed Yahya obviously refers to the Senegalese
Augustin Senghor
and the Ivorian
Jacques Anouma
who have seen their files already validated by the Governance Commission of CAF.
An Anouma who also launched his campaign site a few days ago.
On December 21, the former Ivorian football boss received Patrice Motsepe to discuss possible convergences between the two men.
The South African, for his part, seems to have completely disregarded CAF's decision.
Since November 9 and the surprise announcement of his candidacy, the billionaire has still not spoken publicly about his project for the African Football Confederation.
On the other hand, he is currently traveling West Africa to explain it directly to the presidents of federations who will vote on March 12, during the CAF elective assembly.
Under the watchful eye of FIFA
As for the fifth declared candidate, who is none other than the outgoing president of CAF, he remains on the sidelines.
Ahmad, elected in March 2017
but deposed in November 2020
, is still suspended for five years by the International Football Federation (FIFA) from all activities relating to the round ball.
The Malagasy decided to oppose this sanction of FIFA
before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
.
But, according to our information, he has still not received from FIFA the documents that would allow him to complete his appeal file with CAS.
As a result, CAF declared him ineligible for a second mandate.
FIFA should, whatever happens, play a direct role in the election on March 12.
CAF has just announced
on January 10 that its Governance Committee "must submit to the FIFA Control Committee the applications received for the post of President of CAF".
A decision justified by the fact that the future boss of African football will automatically become vice-president of FIFA ...
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