By Samindra Kunti
January 17 – The CAF executive committee has withdrawn the hosting right for this year’s U17 African Cup of Nations from Madagascar.
The surprise decision was taken in the same meeting that CAF confirmed that Madagascar’s FA president Ahmad Ahmad (pictured) would challenge CAF president Issa Hayatou in the presidential elections in March. The contest will be for the 2017-2021 tenure.
New CAF rules stipulate that the maximum tenure is three terms of fours years for each president. The African confederation allows officials to serve beyond the age of 70, paving the way for Hayatou to throw his hat into the ring again.
The 70-year-old Cameroonian has been CAF president since 1988. He was acting FIFA president in 2016 when Sepp Blatter was banned.
Madagascar were supposed to stage the competition from April 2 to 16 this year, but a new host nation for the cadet championship will be announced, according to an official statement. The exact reason for the withdrawal, however, wasn’t disclosed.
“Following the reports of the CAF inspection teams, the CAF Executive Committee unanimously decided (with the exception of the President of the Malagasy Football Federation) to withdraw the hosting rights of the Total U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2017 from Madagascar,” read the statement. “The CAF Secretariat will launch a new bid for applications within a limited period (until 30 January 2017) for the selection of a new host.”
The move may also be interpreted as an early show of power by Hayatou as he seeks to gain re-election.
The biennial championship will produce four teams who will represent Africa at the FIFA U17 World Cup slated for India later this year. Niger hosted the last U17 AFCON in 2015 with Mali winning the tournament.
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