The Confederation of African Football is dead and its president Isa Hayatou is no longer useful to African football, aspiring candidate Ahmad Ahmad has said.

The 57-year-old Madagascar Football Federation president will challenge Hayatou for African football’s most powerful post  at the March 16 election set for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Hayatou has ruled CAF since 1988 and stands accused of not only running down CAF but of having a bias towards the Francophone countries of West Africa.

“Hayatou is no longer useful to the African football,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad believes he can be the bridge between the ageing African football leadership and the emerging crop of youthful FA presidents.

“I want to change and make a better CAF. The current one is obsolete. It’s no longer useful and if I can be precise, the current one is dead.

“We need to resurrect it and it’s only the presidents who can help me make a change,” he said.

Ahmad claims he has enough support to topple Hayatou on March 16.

“I feel I have already won the election. It is my hope that I am going to be voted into office and I hope most people will respect the choice by the presidents.”

Ahmad attended Zimbabwe Football Association Philip Chiyangwa’s 58th birthday bash held in Harare on Thursday night.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino also attended the bash and appeared to have given Ahmad his full backing.

Nigeria FA president Amaju Melvin Pinnick who was also present in Harare claimed that Ahmad already has 35 votes in the bag.

FA presidents from 54 CAF’s  member countries will vote on March 16.