Former Super Eagles keeper, Idah Peterside, on Friday urged Ahmad Ahmad, new President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to uplift the standard of football in the continent.
Ahmad, President of Madagascar Football Federation, defeated Issa Hayatou of Cameroon, by 34 to 20 votes at the CAF Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Thursday.
Peterside told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Johannesburg, South Africa, that Ahmad had the responsibility of taking African football to greater heights.
“ We knew that change was inevitable and we saw this coming because a lot of people clamoured for it.
“ The new CAF President should work with the agenda Africa has been setting for some time, that is developing the game from the grass root.
“ The African football fraternity should come up with series of ideas that will take the game to the next level,” he said.
Peterside, a former Enyimba International FC of Aba keeper, said that more sponsorship should be given to developing youth football in Africa.
“ More funds should be made available for youth football. There should be an African agenda to make African football pleasant in the eyes of the World,” he said.
He said that Africa should have a strong representative at World Football Governing body, FIFA.
“ With this representation, when we speak, Africa will be given her due respect and accorded all rights and privileges at that level, he stated.
Peterside commended Hayatou “ for giving his life to African football.
“ Under him, Africa had five slots at the World cup and it is hoped that in his retirement, he is given full honours and respect,” he said.
