New Confederation of African Football [CAF] president Ahmad Ahmad says he is not willing to take a salary from Africa’s football governing body, due to the lack of transparency within the organisation.

Ahmed came into power in March when he ended former president, Issa Hayatou’s 29-year reign and the 57-year-old Malagasy man has shocked the football fraternity with his decision to turn down the salary given by CAF,  in a bid to reform the organisation’s administrative structures.

‘I’ve refused a Caf salary for the simple reason it doesn’t respect good administration,” he told BBC Sport.

‘The salaries of all Caf employees, from administrators to the executive committee and president, all have to be transparent.

‘The reform of the administration is a very important point – everyone must know what is happening” said Ahmad.

‘First we must review the standards of management so that we can apply the reforms.

‘I’m sorry to tell you when I was part of the Caf Executive Committee there was no separation of powers – the judicial body, the executive one and the congress – and we have to respect the independence of each body,’ he added.

Ahmad also highlighted the ‘tendency to monopolise power’ by the big-wigs which sit on the board of executive committees.

‘There is a big tendency to monopolise power in the executive committee.

‘It has to be reviewed and reformed with new statutes for Caf so that everyone can concentrate on their proper tasks.

‘We need to take into account their situation. We must ensure that the Nations Cup doesn’t destroy their careers.

‘So we are going to review all of that and we will take a decision that suits everyone so that this competition is valued again and attracts more resources and attract bigger audiences in Africa.

‘Caf is not here to make money to enrich itself,’ he concluded.

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix