NFF Blasts CAF Electoral System

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, says CAF must change it’s structures to allow the best to join the group.

Aminu Maigari, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, has said that CAF must change it’s structures to allow the best to join the group that runs the continental game.

On Sunday in Morocco, Maigari lost his bid to join the CAF Executive Committee to Benin’s Moucharafou Anjorin.

Three years ago, the Beninoise was removed from his position as FA president and spent time in prison over allegations that he misappropriated around $650 000 in sponsorship money.

“I am proud of the campaign we conducted. But it is time that African football begins to put in place a structure that will allow the best to emerge onto the CAF Executive Committee,” Maigari said in what is nothing short of a veiled criticism of CAF.

The NFF president has a point. Also voted in is the disgraced former FIFA Executive Committee member,  Amadou Diakite.

The Malian was handed a two-year ban from all football activities by FIFA after being found guilty of ethical violations of the FIFA code, for his attempt to manipulate the vote for the 2018/2022 World Cup hosts.

He defeated Hassan Musa Bility and Augustin Senghor, presidents of the Liberian and Senegal federations respectively, in Sunday’s vote.

Maigari, Vice President of CAF’s West B zone and member of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee insisted that he is not bitter, and advocated for Nigeria to get a special place on the Exco.

“The poll was an experience and I have no hard feelings. That’s what life is all about. You learn every day.

“Nigeria football is big, not only because we are the current champions of Africa at both junior and senior levels, but also as a result of what we have achieved in the past, on and off-the-field.

“It is my considered view that Nigeria should always be considered for a seat on the Executive Committee,” said Maigari.

At the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football in the Moroccan city, the NFF President polled 17 votes in the first round as against 27 for Anjorin and only nine for Hima Souley, a former President of the Niger Football Federation.

However, as CAF rules stipulated that simple majority would be 28 votes, Anjorin failed to emerge as outright winner in the first round and a run-off was called between himself and Maigari.

A lot of serious politicking and horse-trading went on in the auditorium before the second round, which Maigari lost 19-35.