AFTER weeks of campaigning, scheming and forging alliances, D-day has finally arrived as Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) decides the future of football on the continent.

The CAF elections are set for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday.

Incumbent Issa Hayatou faces a big threat to his presidency from Ahmad Ahmad, a football administrator from Madagascar.

Ahmad has vowed to unseat Hayatou who is facing what is probably his fiercest challenge yet for the position he has held for almost three decades.

These are interesting times for African football with those who are determined to change the complexion of African football administration up against soldiers that are planning to have the status quo sustained.

Already, some of the schemers are calling for the head of Zimbabwe Football Association and COSAFA president Philip Chiyangwa who has been at the fore front calling time on Hayatou’s reign.

The outspoken Chiyangwa has been a game changer, though not contesting for any post, he has appointed himself as Ahmad Ahmad’s campaign manager and this has shaken corridors of power at CAF and also making him unpopular was the party that he organised in Harare last month with FIFA president Gianni Infantino the guest of honour, and with Hayatou not on the guest list.

CAF Executive Committee (Exco) has recommended disciplinary proceedings against Chiyangwa, for allegedly dishonoring the continental football body.

The resolution, among others, was passed during Tuesday’s Exco meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF is taking place.

Thursday’s election is viewed by many as an opportunity to make a proactive statement for what the future of African football should be. 

The 71-year-old Hayatou, who has held African football in a vice grip for 29 years, is widely regarded as a dinosaur, and has outlived his usefulness in African football, hence the call for fresh blood.

His challenger Ahmad is a member of the CAF executive committee and has called on other federation presidents to support his bid calling himself a candidate for transformation.

“A good candidate… I can’t say, but I am a candidate for change and the majority wants change. I am the only one who could dare present a candidacy for the change. And I am vying to bring this change,” Ahmad told AFP during an interview at the Madagascar Football Federation offices in Antananarivo.

Ahmad is confident of support from 13 of the 14 countries of COSAFA, the southern Africa umbrella football body which includes Madagascar.

Most observers believe Ahmad poses a greater threat to Hayatou but he remains the outsider.

He has also received a significant boost, though, with West African football powerhouse Nigeria publicly backing him.

Elected in 2003 as head of Malagasy football, the former player and coach guarantees "transparency in the management" of CAF and an end to "obsolete practices".

In January, Ahmad suffered a slap in the face when CAF stripped Madagascar of the right to host the Africa U17 Cup of Nations scheduled for April.

Both candidates have been forwarding last minute campaigns in Addis Ababa, to swing as many votes as possible to their side in what is anticipated to be tightly contested election.

And whichever candidate wins, the 2017 CAF elections will leave a huge mark on the African game.