Benjani scores as CAF boss plays
BENJANI Mwaruwari was on target in a match which featured CAF president Ahmad Ahmad, who pulled out a masterstroke as the African legends defeated their Moroccan counterparts 2-1 in a memorial tie in Berkane on Wednesday.
This is the first time a leader of Africa’s football governing body has publicly played the game, marking a departure from the previous regime that seemed tired and disinterested.
The Malagasy, who is undertaking major reforms for Africa’s governing body, demonstrated his willingness to make the continent’s legends relevant to football by leading the African side.
Ahmad showed impressive skills as he captained the side to victory in the match played in the honour of the late Moroccan international goalkeeper Abdelkader Barazi.
The CAF leader led the African stars, with top former players like Kalusha Bwalya, Kahlilou Fadiga, goalkeeper Antoine Bell, Lucas Radebe, Daniel Amokachi, Tony Baffoe, Stephen Appiah, Titi Camara, ElHaji Diouf of Senegal, Lakhdar Beloumi of Algeria and Adel El Chedly of Tunisia and Raja Casablanca as well as female star Jean Sseninde and Mercy Tagoe.
The match included a large number of Moroccan stars, most notably captain Noureddine Naybet, Mustapha Haddawi, Rachid Daoudi and Mustapha Hajji who thrilled the fans in the Moroccan city.
Africa won the match, thanks to goals from Diouf and former Zimbabwe international striker Benjani, with Moroccan legend Djouad Ouadouche scoring a beauty. Since taking over nearly a year ago, Ahmad has brought legends on board at CAF in various capacities as he seeks to steer Africa’s governing body on the right path.
The decision to play the match gave Ahmad the chance to fraternise with the legends, while projecting CAF in a new positive light as an organisation operating an open-door policy.
The decision to play in the match has painted a different and good image of the CAF leadership after making several right moves since taking over the body.
Al-Barazi started his career with the Nahdat Berkhan team before moving to FAR Rabat, where he played for 10 seasons.
He then won the league from 98 to 2000, during which he won the FA Cup. - ghanasoccernet