New CAF Boss Proposes Review of African Football Tournaments

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad Ahmad says the African football body will embark on a review of the continent’s premier football competitions.

The 57-year-old football boss made this particular announcement while speaking at the senior executive CAF meeting Monday, reports the BBC.

According to Ahmad, a number of reforms are needed to revive the dwindling fortunes of the African Football Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, which has lost some of its prestige recently.

The CAF boss said it was particularly important to review the timing of the AFCON games to avoid a situation where star players who ply their trade in European leagues are caught between club commitments and loyalty to their country.

“We need to take in to account their situation. We must ensure that the Nations Cup doesn’t destroy their careers,” Ahmad insisted.

“So we are going to review all of that and we will take a decision that suits everyone so that this competition is valued again and attracts more resources and attracts bigger audiences in Africa.”

He then proposed a symposium to be held in Morocco later in July, which would discuss the new reforms extensively.

“The symposium will be made up of representatives from all parts of African football, so we can discuss what we are going to do in all the competitions — AFCON, [African Championship of Nations] CHAN, the youth tournaments, and the women’s events,” he explained.

Ahmad said further that the reform of the administration is also key, “First we must review the standards of management so that we can apply the reforms.”

Ahmad, who defeated former CAF President Issa Hayatou in a landmark election in March, has decided not to receive a salary from the continental football body since his assumption of office.

“I’ve refused a CAF salary for the simple reason it doesn’t respect good administration,” he told BBC Sport.

“The salaries of all CAF employees, from administrators to the executive committee and president, all have to be transparent.”

The Madagascan native also told CAF executives at the meeting that the reforms must begin with them.

“I’m sorry to tell you when I was part of the CAF Executive Committee there was no separation of powers — the judicial body, the executive one, and the congress — and we have to respect the independence of each body,” he continued.

“There is a big tendency to monopolize power in the executive committee.

“It has to be reviewed and reformed with new statutes for CAF, so that everyone can concentrate on their proper tasks.”