FIFA candidates make late push for African support

The Confederation of African football (CAF) has put its weight behind Asian Football Confederation President, Sheikh Salman’s bid for the FIFA presidency.

“The Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol (RFEF), as agreed at a board meeting last January, has made a decision to show its official support for the candidacy of Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, in the elections being held next February 26”, the RFEF said via statement.

In its meeting on Friday, Africa’s top football body elected to pick Sheikh Salman as its preferred candidate for the polls, CAF vice-president Suketu Patel told reporters.

CAF has 54 voting member associations, one more than UEFA, and represents a crucial bloc. “I still stand, I go to Zurich”, he added, noting that individual associations would make their own decisions.

During apartheid, Sexwale was a political prisoner on Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela.

“We will be present when Caf announce their decision”.

The confusion apparently arose from a letter Sexwale sent to CAF’s executive committee asking that he not be considered for their endorsement as it was clear he didn’t have the body’s support.

“I will stay in the race till election day”, Sexwale said, although his chances appear non-existent.

The South African will speak with Nyantakyi at the CAF Executive Committee meeting in Rwanda as the South African seeks support in a final bid to revive his ailing election campaign.

After the CAF meeting, the next key date for the candidates is February 11 when they will give presentations to the CONCACAF confederation for North and Central America and the Caribbean at a meeting in Miami. “Who can prevent us from doing that?”

“Today we discussed details of the election campaign and again expressed our support to Infantino”, R-Sport news agency quoted him as saying.

CAF’s move was bound to bring more scrutiny on a co-operation agreement signed last month between the AFC and CAF.

Sheikh Salman and Infantino are seen as the frontrunners and the Bahraini hinted that a deal between the two could be possible ahead of the vote.

Imray reported from South Africa.