Kwesi Nyantakyi, former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), revealed that he was close to becoming President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) before leaving football administration in 2018.
Nyantakyi indicated that his progression within CAF positioned him as a likely successor to the presidency.
“It was very possible. At the time I exited CAF and football, I was the first vice president of the federation. I was the next most senior football official on the continent of Africa. So it was just a matter of course that if the president was not there, I was the most favourable person to step into his shoes,” he expressed during an interview on Tuesday, January 6.
He further mentioned that Ghana could have had a CAF president in him, and that the opportunity remains available for future football administrators.
“Ghana would have had a CAF president. It is still possible—anyone who works hard can become president under current and future leadership,” he remarked.
When asked if the scandal had affected him personally, Nyantakyi responded that he had moved on.
“I am not hurt by anything like that. Life goes on. There are many opportunities in life for every individual,” he stated.
Nyantakyi resigned in June 2018 following the release of the documentary “Number 12,” produced by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which exposed extensive corruption in Ghanaian football.
The footage depicted Nyantakyi accepting $65,000 from an undercover reporter posing as a businessman, claiming he could leverage his connections with then-President Nana Akufo-Addo to advance business interests.
The revelations sparked public outrage and led to Nyantakyi resigning from his positions at the GFA, CAF, and FIFA. Subsequently, FIFA imposed a lifetime ban on him in October 2018 for violating ethics and anti-corruption regulations, although the penalty was later reduced to 15 years.
In February 2025, criminal charges in Ghana were ultimately dismissed after prosecutors failed to obtain testimony from crucial witnesses, including Anas, who declined to testify without his mask due to security concerns.
