Sierra Leonean FA boss Isha Tejan-Cole Johansen has challenged GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi to take charge and spearhead the act of change in African football after the latter’s recent re-election unto the FIFA Council.
Issa Hayatou who had held CAF’s apex position for 29 years lost to Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad who pulled 34 votes out of the 54 delegates on Thursday signifying an implacable change in African football history.
Mrs Johansen who is the only female on CAF’s Executive Committee named the Ghanaian as one of the few who championed the change on the African football terrain leading to the ousting of the long-serving CAF president.
“Yesterday, what the world witnessed was that change had come for African football and to be quite honest there was no acrimony. It was a peaceful transition”
“One that was led by our brothers and of course in true fashion we followed our brothers like president Kwesi and I hope that this will be a legacy for your children and for the people of Ghana that from today onwards the change that we witnessed on the African continent and in African football will be down to a selected few headed by no other than your president Kwesi Nyantakyi”
She also expressed the trust and value football administrators in Africa and beyond reserve for Mr. Nyantakyi while calling on Ghanaians to do same.
“We on the outside know his caliber, we know his worth, we know his pedigree and we embrace him.
“I will like to believe that you all see in him what we in CAF, in FIFA and also the other member associations see in President Kwesi” she continued
She made the comments at a short ceremony which took place on the forecourt of the Ghana Football Association on Friday following Mr. Nyantakyi’s FIFA Council election victory.
Mr Nyantakyi was re-elected on the FIFA Council for a second term defeating Benin FA Boss Leodegar Tenga in Addis by 33 votes to 20.
The victory means he will serve on the council for the next four years (2017-2021).
He previously held the position for 6 months before his re-election.
