THISDAYonline

Nigeria's Dr. Amos Adamu has been elected into the Confederation during the organisation's 25th General Assembly in Bamako, Mali.

CAF's 52 national associations who participated in the election, brought on board the Nigerian candidate and South African representative Molife Oliphant who were both elected for two-years.

Mali's Amadou Diakite and Ismail Bhamjee from Botswana kept their seats on the FIFA executive committee after Ousseynou Dieng of Ivory Coast withdrew.

Adamu's road to CAF started last year when Federal Government nominated him as the country's candidate, but that soon ran into brickwall as the Sports Minister Ishaya Mark Aku who had shown interest in the position protested.

But pressure from the Federal government and Adamu's antecedent in sports administration in Nigeria prevailed on Aku to step down.

Adamu was appointed the Sole administrator of Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in 1991, and under his leadership Nigeria won FIFA Under-17 World Championship Japan.

He also supervised Nigeria's first ever qualification for the World Cup in USA before handing over to Emeka Omeruah.

Adamu was appointed in 1995 as the Director of Sports Development in the Sports Ministry until 2001 when the Federal Government appointed him as Executive Director of 2003 All African Games (COJA).

Nigeria romance with the CAF executive body dates back decades when Orok Oyok Orok was appointed to the seat before he retired last year. But due to his contribution to CAF, Orok was honoured as an honorary member.

Elated Sports Minister, Ishaya Mark Aku who phone from the Malian capital to confirm the result, said Nigerian camp is already in high spirit for the continental soccer fiesta.

Aku who rushed to Bamako on Tuesday to calm players' nerves over the lack of fund, disclosed that the maoney approved for the championship will be ready before Eagles opening match against Algeria on Monday.

He was at the head of Nigerian lobby group that cordinated the campaign drive for Adamu's candidature.