For 29 years, the question of “Who is the CAF president?” remained unchanged not until few days ago. Issa Hayatou’s reign as CAF boss came to an end after he lost to Ahmad Ahmad in Addis Ababa.

The wind of change swept in a lot of “new” members to the CAF executive committee but Ahmad’s 34-20 election victory was the peak of all. It was a wind that had gathered as much momentum to cause a major tsunami in CAF. 

Nigeria got a share of the largess with the election of Amaju Pinnick into the executive committee. He recently returned like a hero especially seeing the events that played before the elections where the FG/minister of sports instructed he votes Hayatou to political reasons not excluding Book Haram. It is even reported that he is among the driving force of Ahmad’s campaign.

So Ahmad is in, what next? I hope the agenda was not just to unsit Issa Hayatou like a political party in Nigeria. Africa would like to see change – positive one. While Issa Hayatou returns to Cameroon, Africa will watch and see how the Malagasy Ahmad fares. He has the backing of Infatinno, the FIFA president. Can that count for uttermost support?

The new CAF will not change the face of football like the Wizard of Oz in a twinkle. Football has to be developed by individual FAs. This brings it back to Nigeria. Will Ahmad provide improved football infrastructure for Nigeria? Will Ahmad improve the NPFL? Will he make the clubs abide by the requirements needed to rule as a club as per FIFA, CAF, NFF and LMC guidelines? Will Ahmad make Nigeria win the World Cup in Russia? Will another Nigeria team win the CAF Champions League or even the World Club Cup because Ahmad is in charge?

You know the answers friend. We have to do all of these ourselves not expecting Ahmad to perform a miracle in Nigeria. We must stand unique and operate within our locus. We mustn’t copy the western world. We must look within and bring our football way from stone age to the future we all glamour for. We must execute our part with the sincerest of heart and purest of motive.

We must uphold all level of ethics of the game. If Nigeria will be better, it begins with me and you, not Ahmad. It continues within our local football authorities (NFF, LMC, NNL, NWPL etc). 

While the victory song is on across Africa, we must be ready to put our hands together to move our football to the promised land. 

Selah.

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