ZIFA President Philip Chiyangwa claims he is FIFA's axe-man

ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa says he is doing the hatchet job for FIFA to remove unpopular football leaders.

Chiyangwa is riding on the crest of a wave after spearheading the fall of African football strongman, Issa Hayatou, at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) congress on Thursday.

He was campaign manager for Madagascar Football Association president Ahmad Ahmad, who beat Hayatou 34-20 to land the top CAF post.

"This is how it works. I wait to get clearance from FIFA on whom to fight, whether to keep somebody or to deal with them. And so, with this one [Hayatou's ouster], I had been given the green light to deal with him and I did it, but it's a very long story" Chiyangwa said on arrival at Harare International Airport on Friday.

He said the ouster of Hayatou meant "things will begin to happen in Zimbabwe which was not possible in the past".

"I can't announce now at the moment, just know there are plenty of things that are going to happen which are good for Zimbabwean football," he said. "I think that Zimbabwe is now being regarded at the top in football politics because it's us who crown kings or remove them."

Chiyangwa, who doubles as the COSAFA boss, enjoys a close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The FIFA boss was in Harare last month for Chiyangwa's 58th birthday celebrations, which were attended by several African football federation bosses in a bid to shore up support for Ahmad ahead of the election.

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