This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
July 19, 2019 - The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is in the midst of a crisis, with President Ahmad Ahmad taking drastic measures to consolidate his power. In a move that has left many in the football community stunned, Ahmad has fired his deputy Amaju Pinnick, the president of the Nigerian Football Federation.
The decision was made at a hastily-assembled meeting of the CAF executive committee, just as FIFA was releasing details of a road map to put the crisis-hit organisation back on its feet. Ahmad, who is being investigated by FIFA's ethics committee for alleged corruption, has been under intense pressure to reform the organisation.
According to senior CAF sources, Pinnick was standing up to Ahmad and taking him on in many issues, which led to the CAF president feeling it was right to get rid of him. Pinnick released a statement saying his term was up and he agreed with the CAF president not to renew it.
However, many are questioning the timing and motives behind Ahmad's decision. The CAF president has been accused of corruption and has been under investigation by FIFA's ethics committee. In June, he was detained by French police and questioned over a sportswear deal between CAF and a French company.
As part of the road map to reform CAF, FIFA will next month take over the running of the organisation. This is seen as a compromise agreement with Gianni Infantino, the president of world soccer's ruling body, for Ahmad to stay in power. The Senegalese secretary general Fatma Samoura will be sent to CAF on a nine-month secondment to overhaul the organisation in accordance with an 11-point plan.
