Caf votes to extend Hayatou’s stay in office
The Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) Extraordinary Assembly on Thursday upheld a contentious statue that hands President Issa Hayatou a significant advantage in case he opts to extend his 28 year long stay at helm.
During the gathering held at the continental body’s headquarters in Cairo and attended by among others Fifa president Gianni Infantino, a majority of the representatives from the body’s 53 member associations resolved to vote against the “Djibouti motion”.
The Djibouti motion had specifically sought to repeal an earlier law passed by the same members in Seychelles back in 2012, which restricts Caf’s presidential candidates to the 12 members of the ExCo.
In relevance, this statue – which bars even the current FA Presidents and any other stakeholders from contesting the presidency – was defeated for failing to gather the approval of at least 75 percent of the votes cast.
CAF ELECTIONS
This implies that in perspective, a majority of the current serving FA presidents either have no intention of succeeding the 70 year old Hayatou, or have no nerve of expressing their democratic right.
Earlier, Hayatou had in his opening remarks thanked the delegates for “working hard to update Caf’s Statues to conform to those of Fifa”.
Hayatou, who once served as president of the Cameroon FA, is expected to defend his seat during Caf’s elections next year.
Meanwhile, Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa and his counterpart from Ethiopia, Juneidi Basha, reportedly abstained from the vote.
