CAF Presidency: Ahmad Ahmad has returned

Forty-eight hours after the provisional lifting of his suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Ahmad Ahmad is resuming his position as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Constant Omari, who has assumed the interim in this position, acknowledged this decision on Sunday, January 31.
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More movement at the top of CAF. Two and a half months after being removed from office as president by the Fifa, Ahmad Ahmad is back. The Malagasy leader had received an initial favourable opinion on Friday 29 January, when the CAS set up a « fast-track procedure » to deal with the accusations against him and temporarily suspended the sanctions taken by the Fifa.

This Sunday, January 31, CAF formalizes what the CAS decision implied: not only can Ahmad Ahmad campaign for the next elections for the presidency of CAF, but in addition, the suspension of sanctions leads to his return to the post of president of CAF.
Ahmad Ahmad thanks Constant Omari for his interim

Emphasising the suspensive nature of the CAS decision, the CAF states that « consequently, he (Ahmad Ahmad) has regained his function ». Constant Omari, who succeeded Ahmad Ahmad by interim, convened by video-conference the Emergency Committee of CAF this Sunday and « took note of the CAS decision. The statement added that the Malagasy politician « will refer to the Governance Committee of CAF from this Monday » 1 February, about his candidacy in the elections of 12 March for the presidency of CAF.

« I warmly thank Constant Omari for having assumed the presidency in recent weeks. He has notably brilliantly implemented the organisation of the CHAN TOTAL Cameroon 2020. I will complete this magnificent competition and allow football, as always, to triumph, » said Ahmad Ahmad, who had succeeded Issa Hayatou as president of CAF in March 2017.

Ivorian Jacques Anouma, South African Patrice Motsepe, Senegalese Augustin Senghor and Mauritanian Ahmed Yahya are also in contention for the March 12 elections. Elections in which Ahmad Ahmad, who has been reinstated as president, may be able to take part. The CAS is due to consider his case on 2 March and rule by 12 March.