Addis Ababa - Danny Jordaan won his quest for a place on the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) executive committee after a convincing win as he emerged as one of the kingmakers on a day of upset results at the elections in Addis Ababa.

The South African Football Association (Safa) president will serve for four years as one of the southern African members.

But he can now be considered as a potential future candidate for the leadership of CAF after receiving 35 votes to win the poll of three who were chasing two southern African places in the 15-man exco.

Rui Almeida da Costa of Angola was also elected with 25 votes‚ one more than Frans Mbidi of Namibia while Suketu Patel of the Seychelles pulled out before the vote.

“After a long time‚” said a smiling Jordaan as he was congratulated by fellow South Africans Irvin Khoza‚ Raymond Hack and Molefi Oliphant after the vote.

Jordaan had failed four years ago in his bid to get onto the cabinet of African football’s governing body when he was upset by Ahmad of Madagascar.

Ahmad is the new leader of African football after ousting long-serving CAF president Issa Hayatou in a stunning upset at the organisation’s Congress in Ethiopia on Thursday.

Ahmad polled 34-20 in a shock victory that was more about ending Hayatou’s 29-year tenure than a vote for the former government sports and minister.

Jordaan had been one of Ahmad’s primary backers as South Africa joined the rebels in the build-up to Thursday’s vote.

For the last years Jordaan has been one of Hayatou’s special advisors but the relationship changed when Hayatou refused to back Jordaan in the campaign.

Jordaan is among a sweep of new faces on the exco after Hayatou’s loyalists were swept from power in dramatic blood letting during the much anticipated elections.

Ahmad had not been considered a worthy candidate just months ago but momentum built up over the last months and culminated in a shock defeat.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was seen as a strong influence as he had made no bones about his support for change.

The 70-year-old Hayatou‚ seeking an eighth term‚ had been expected to have a tough challenge but few foresaw the decisive nature of the win for Ahmad‚ who now leads an organisation with an increasingly new generation of football association presidents among its members.

Ahmad promised more money to member associations‚ business class travel and more consultation in a speech he delivered minutes before the vote‚ displaying a touch of charisma previously lacking in his campaign.

Hayatou‚ obviously confident of victory‚ did not ask for a chance to address the Congress before the vote was taken.

South Africa voted first in the lengthy process with their ballot being delivered by Lucas Nhlapo‚ the vice president of Safa.

This is because Jordaan was one of scrutinizers‚ who counted the ballot papers in the corner of African Union hall.

After the result was announced Ahmad was carried back to the podium on the shoulders of his supporters while Hayatou adjourned the Congress for lunch.

When the Congress came back after the break‚ there were more sweeping changes as the executive committee elections saw six members voted from power.

It was another clear repudiation of the Hayatou era as veteran officials had their careers dramatically ended by a fiery Congress.

Ex-SAFA president Molefi Oliphant‚ who had been co-opted to the CAF executive committee by Hayatou‚ could be one of the victims of change that the new president is expected to produce in the coming months. - TMG Digital