Why the Nigerian Government wants Hayatou as president

For the presidency, Cameroon’s Issa Hayatou is being challenged by Ahmad Ahmad who is also the boss of the Madagascar FA.

For Hayatou who has been president of CAF since 1988, Ahmad poses to be his toughest challenger to the office in his seven terms as boss.

While the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have publicly backed Ahmad ahead of the election, Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has revealed that he has gotten directives from the Federal Government that the NFF should support Hayatou.

While speaking to reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, March, Dalung said he has been told by the vice president Yemi Osinbajo, that backing Ahmad at the elections is against the foreign policy of Nigeria as Cameroon, home country of Hayatou as an 'ally' to Nigeria.

“For the presidency of CAF, when I invited them, I told them Nigeria’s position is to vote in favour of her national interest and not too long ago, the federal government made categorically clear her position,” Pinnick said.

“And the position of the federal government of Nigeria is that, in view of the fact that Cameroon has been a major key player in the war against insurgency and the involvement of Cameroon in fighting for the stability of Nigeria, it will be out of the foreign policy context of Nigeria to abandon Cameroon.”

How does Nigeria’s relationship with Cameroon concern Hayatou and the CAF Elections?

Hayatou comes from the Garoua region of northern Cameroon, where his father was the sultan when he was born on August 9, 1946.

The Hayatou family’s influence is widespread in Cameroon.

"The Hayatou clan is close to the ruling party of , who has been in power in Cameroon since 1982," undefined.

Hayatou's brother, Sadou Hayatou, was prime minister in 1991-1992; another brother, Alim Garga Hayatou, has been secretary of state for health for many years and is now a Sultan.

Although Hayatou has largely stayed out of Cameroon politics, he's still close friends with President Biya who has been in office since 1982.

With the NFF an influential federation in CAF, Hayatou has been deeply concerned with their backing of his main challenger, Ahmed.

With Ahmed proving to be Hayatou’s toughest challenge in his 29-year reign as president of CAF, Hayatou needs NFF to be on his side and what has he done? Ask for help from his friend, Paul Biya.

Biya would have reached out the Federal Government of Nigeria, hence their interest.

The relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon remains tense largely because of the issues relating to their 1,600-kilometer land boundary, extending from the Lake Chad to the Bakassi peninsula, and boundary into the Gulf of Guinea.

Their joint fight against Boko Haram has however calmed some of those tensions. This is why the Federal Government are interested in the CAF elections.

Tough one for NFF president, Amaju Pinnick who as Nigeria’s FA boss is the only one eligible to vote on behalf of the country.

ALSO READ: Pinnick reveals why he is backing Ahmad

It remains up to him and the NFF executive committee to decide who to vote. The NFF can ignore the Sports Minister and Federal Government and vote for Ahmad but they need the funding from the government to run the federation.

While the endorsements from the Sports Minister and the Federal Government are steps in the right direction, the final decision lies ultimately with Pinnick and his executive committee.

The ball remains in their court.

Why the Nigerian Government wants Hayatou as president

The Federal Government of Nigeria has waded into the

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