Repoter: Gilbert Munatsi
The president of the Nigeria Football Association Amaju Pinnick has made vague indications that Zimbabwe has the potential to take the lead of football on the continent.
Describing his host Philip Chiyangwa as “the future of Africa football”, he added that something is going to happen and he had no regret about the way things are going to change in Africa.
Nigeria is the biggest football association in Africa and the presence of the man at its helm in Harare cements a plot to tip next month’s elections against Isa Hayatou of Cameroon who has in power since 1988 and is seeking an eighth and “final” term in office”.
“He (Chiyangwa) is dynamic, resourceful, indispensable, practical, realistic, transformative and a symbol of global football on the continent,” he poured the superlatives on the Zifa chief.
Also throwing their weight behind the decision to shift the winds are the Fifa secretary-general, Fatma Samba Diouf and the president of the Madagascar Football Association, Ahmad Ahmad who both attended Chiyangwa’s party.
While Senegalese Diouf is the first ever African woman and only person of the female gender to land the post from out of the European continent, former Sports Minister Ahmad hopes to cruise in the march 16 CAF elections for which Chiyangwa is his campaign manager.
The term of office for the CAF presidency has since been reduced to a three-year term and it would not be surprising for Zimbabwe to seek nomination after Magadascar (should it win).
“We cannot preempt what comes from a ballot box, but I am hopeful and once elected I am optimistic that I will deliver to expectation,” he said
