ACTUALITE |
10.12.2001
Interview with the African soccer confederacy president : Issa Hayatou
Cameroon born, Issa Hayatou has been the President of the African soccer confederacy since March 1988. During those14 years, Hayatou has seen African football grow immensely at international level.. Five African teams will compete in next year`s World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Other success have seen young African teams of the likes of Ghana in 1991 and 1995 and Nigeria in 1993 win world cups at youth level. The upcoming African Nations Cup (Mali, 2002) will be Hayatou`s 8th in charge
Mister Hayatou, it is nearly 14 years since you were installed as the head of African football. What conclusions can you draw from those years in charge?
" The real conclusions are not for me to draw, that job belongs to the others. But I`m very satisfied by what we have been able to achieve since 1988. Don`t forget that I took over from Mr Tessema who was a popular president for a number of years.
According to you, how does African football rate on an international level?
" Football is a major creator of national unity in our countries. Looking at Cameroon for example, we have been independent since 1960, and have embassies worldwide but thanks to the success of Roger Milla , Thomas Nkono, and Antoine Bell, Cameroon has become known all around the world . Football is a powerful diplomatic factor, but it also manages to move people who were once divided closer together. Tribes who live in the same country but have not shared the same viewpoints, as well as nations that were divided can get closer by meeting each other on the football field. Certain countries managed to make themselves known geographically and politically thanks to the football.
More and more big European clubs have several African players. Bayern have Ghanaan Samuel Kuffour and Guinea`s Pablo Thiam, Borussia Dortmund have the Nigerian captain Sunday Oliseh, Manchester have South-African Quintune Fortune, Real Madrid have Cameroonian Geremies Njitap, Inter Milan have Sierra-Leonan Moussa Kallon and Juventus have Cameroonian goalkeeper Idriss Kameni.
Five African countries(Cameroon, Nigeria, South-Africa, Tunisia and Senegal) will take part in the World cup, what are your hopes?
My hope is that an African team reaches the semi-finals. African football is making progress, everybody recognises it, but I believe that a good performance by these five teams at the final phase of the World cup, would propel African football to the highest level. And in that case why wouldn`t we be able to demand extra places for Africa in the final phase of World cup. I wish that our 5 teams will get very far. But if you think about it, Cameroon, Nigeria and Senegal already frighten all of their opponents ".
Africa are likely to stage the 2010 World Cup. Which country should organise it?
" We shall study all the candidates seriously. But countries who are experienced in staging these kind of events, are in a strong position. For example, Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia and Nigeria. The country will be known in July, 2004.
Hayatou - Président of FIFA! When will this happen?
" At the moment, it`s not my dream. But this does not mean that an African cannot become the President of FIFA. An African steered the United nations and at present another African is in charge. If we are able to organise the World Cup in Africa, we can become a future candidate for producing the head of FIFA ".
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