The head of Madagascar FA Ahmad Ahmad has declared his candidature to challenge long-serving Confederation of African Football (CAF) leader Issa Hayatou in March’s presidential elections.

CAF Executive Committee met on Thursday in the Gabonese capital, Libreville and approved the two men to stand for the 2017-2021 presidential elections.

Ahmad, 57, is a member of the CAF Executive Committee, and is currently in his third term of office with Madagascar Football Federation. He was retained unopposed, polling 21 of the 22 votes, representing more than the required 50 percent plus one.

Hayatou, who has ruled the African game since 1988, also is seeking an eighth term. The 71-year old was re-elected unopposed during the last CAF elections in 2013.

Previously, the Cameroonian had stated this term would be his last until a change of regulations altered his standpoint. In 2015, CAF voted to change the statutes which previously stopped officials serving past the age of 70 and this paved the way for Hayatou to stand in the election.

He is already CAF’s longest-serving ruler, having led the organisation for 29 years, and still counting.

The elections will take place in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa when the organisation celebrates its 60th year of existence.

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