Ghana pips Madagascar
What was expected to be a relatively easy victory ended up in a close contest as Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi beat his Malagasy counterpart, Almany, 31-30, to pick one of the two African slots for football's world governing body, FIFA's Executive Council.
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It was not a straight fight between the two candidates, given that there were three others contesting. However, by their pedigree and stature in African football, Nyantakyi was tipped to have an easy time, particularly when Suketu Patel, the president of Seychelles Football Association and first vice president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), withdrew from the contest at the last minute.
However, it ended a fierce contest which was decided by a single vote in favour of Nyantakyi.
As predicted, the Francophone voted massively and chose Almamy Kabele Camara, Guinea's Football Association president and the second vice president of CAF, who garnered 37 votes.
Camara and Nyantakyi will now serve on FIFA's Executive Council, now the main decision-making body, and will be part of the 36-member body when it holds its first meeting in Zurich on October 13-14.
The Executive Council replaces the 24-member Executive Committee that served under previous administrations and whose members were caught up in the corruption scandal that rocked FIFA last year.
The victory also ushers Nyantakyi into another historic course in his chosen football administration career, becoming the first Ghanaian to serve on FIFA .
A relieved Nyantakyi told the Graphic Sports that it was 'a big relief' and had never felt the 'pressure of going through a counting process in an election' as he did during yesterday's election process at CAF's Extra Ordinary Congress in Cairo.
"I'm grateful that it's all over and victory has come Ghana's way. While I may have contested on my own right, I think the victory is a significant one for Ghana because finally, a football powerhouse in Africa like Ghana gets to serve on football's biggest stage.
" This new position brings more responsibility, but just as I have discharged my duties as CAF ExCo member and the president of the GFA creditably, I pledge to do same at my new role,," Nyantakyi said.