CAF politics: Pinnick, Ahmad at war over supremacy

CAF politics: Pinnick, Ahmad at war over supremacy Bello Bello ....Protocol snub of Pinnick to show displeasure Ahmad Ahmad, the President of Confederation of African Football (CAF) and his First Vice, Amaju Pinnick of Nigeria are reported to have had some spat which became public during the continental body’s special sitting in Sharm El Sheik in Egypt last week. Authoritative sources in Cairo, the CAF headquarters snitched to www.bsnsports.com.ng that, the CAF African Nations Cup Organising Committee chairman was supposed to, by protocol, have welcomed the FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as a special guest at the gathering. To assert his position, the CAF President was alleged to have turned the protocol rules upside down. He mandated the Moroccan Football Association President Faouzi Lekjaa to welcome Infantino. On what could have led to the situation, our source said, the decision of which African goes in the FIFA Council was to be taken at the meeting. Pinnick recommended the South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan without recourse to the CAF President. Ahmad snubbed the choice of Jordaan and opted without second thought for Malawi’s Walter Nyamilandu Manda. He felt betrayed by Pinnick. Manda was loyal during the election that brought him in unlike Jordan. Two, Pinnick is feared may be bringing his friends on board without considering his (Ahmad) interests. Subtle crux is that Ahmad Ahmad is eyeing a return to the seat by the next CAF election. Truly speaking, without the roles that Pinnick played, dethroning the long serving Issa Hayatou of Cameroon in Ethiopia two years ago, Ahmad Ahmad may not have become CAF President today. However, unconfirmed sources also claim that an unwritten agreement as to tenure may be another silent factor now. In order to show who is in control, Ahmad was reported to have deliberately left Pinnick in Cairo, jumped into a special jet that took him to Yaounde on a planned visit to President Paul Biya to discuss further developments around the hosting of the 2019 African Nations Cup in Cameroon. The humiliation is registered and made obvious. How on earth Ahmad Ahmad would go to Cameroon to discuss issues on the 2019 Nations Cup without the Chairman of the Organising and Inspection Committees, Pinnick. It was seen as a clear diplomatic scuff. The Cairo source confirmed that the Nigeria FA Chief felt embarrassed and humiliated. He was so hurt but took it with some calmness. However, the handwriting was bold and italicised. Source:www.gongnews.com