Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou will face a rare challenge on Thursday as he stands for an eighth term at the helm of the African game when CAF hold their Congress in the Ethiopian capital.
Ahmad, a Madagascan government minister who uses a single name, will contest Thursday's vote and is only the third challenger Hayatou has faced since he became CAF president in 1988.
The other opponents Armando Machado of Angola in 2000 and Ismail Bhamjee of Botswana in 2004 were roundly beaten but Ahmad is the first to have received expressions of support from among CAF member countries, including the grouping of 14 southern African countries (COSAFA) and Nigeria.
Hayatou and his opponent have waged a lively election campaign over the last two months, featuring an unusually high number of public pronouncements for a process that is traditionally played out behind closed doors.
The 70-year-old Hayatou, who also serves as FIFA senior vice president and is from Cameroon, promises continuity while Ahmad says it is time for change.
Basically, what we all want is a change in leadership, in the system, and in how we manage the Confederation," he said in an interview.
"We live in a time of transformation. The majority of federation presidents have changed. There are many more young people than before.
The Madagascar Football Federation president says he was confident of support, even though only Cosafa and Nigeria have so far gone public.
Others won’t say it publicly. I know that and I respect their position."
The election for the CAF president is followed by elections for seven of the 15 places on the organisation executive committee.
Then there will be a tightly run contest for Africa’s seven places on the new-look FIFA Council, the all-powerful cabinet that runs the world game.
Latest Stories
-
Will Ghana’s democracy stand the test of time in the 2024 elections?
51 mins -
Hindsight: Dreams fairytale run proved one thing; it is possible
2 hours -
God makes rulers, not you; you can’t choose your successor – Mahama to Akufo-Addo
3 hours -
Contributors own SSNIT, they must decide who becomes its Director-General – Austin Gamey
4 hours -
Move away from theory-based learning towards practical learning approaches – AUCC President to students
4 hours -
Haaland scores as Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest
5 hours -
Villas-Boas elected Porto president
5 hours -
Situation on frontline has worsened, Ukraine army chief says
5 hours -
US doctor describes witnessing starvation in northern Gaza
5 hours -
CAFCC: RS Berkane make final after USM Alger refused to play 2nd leg over Moroccans’ jersey
5 hours -
Elon Musk in China to discuss enabling full self driving
6 hours -
PSG clinch Ligue 1 title after Lyon’s win over Monaco
8 hours -
Guinness Ghana sets the pace at Ghana Beverage Awards with six awards
8 hours -
Burkina Faso suspends BBC, VOA radio broadcasts over killings coverage
8 hours -
Nicole Kidman honoured with AFI Life Achievement Award
8 hours