Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) head, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has revealed he was on track to become Confederation of African Football (CAF) President before his downfall in 2018.
As first vice president of CAF, Mr. Nyantakyi was the most senior football official in Africa, positioning him as a likely successor to the presidency.
“It was a real possibility,” Mr. Nyantakyi said in an interview. “I was next in line, and it was just a matter of time before I took over.”
He believes Ghana missed an opportunity to have a CAF president in him, but notes that hard work can still take future administrators to the top. He claims to have moved on from the scandal that led to his resignation, saying “life goes on” and there are many opportunities ahead ².
The scandal, sparked by an investigative documentary, showed Nyantakyi accepting $65,000 and boasting about connections with Ghana’s president. He resigned from GFA, CAF, and FIFA roles, and was later banned for 15 years for ethics breaches.