Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad ends Hayatou's 29-year reign, emerges new CAF president

Ahmad Ahmad. Photo credit: AFP

Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar was on Thursday elected president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), ousting veteran leader Issa Hayatou after 29 years in office.

Ahmed garnered 34 votes to Hayatou’s 20 votes at the CAF Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Cameroonian Hayatou, who had been in power since 1988, was seeking an eighth four-year term.

Speaking to reporters after the vote, Ahmad said: "When you try to do something, you mean that you can do it. If I can't do it, I never stand."