By Andrew Warshaw
November 18 – Senegal Football Federation president Augustin Senghor (pictured), the fifth and final candidate to enter the race for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), says he is ready to accept the challenge and believes he has the backing of a number of countries without identifying them.
Senghor joins present incumbent Ahmad (Madagascar), Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast), Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) and Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) in the election next March.
“I have not been insensitive to …. the confidence (shown in me) from my African peers”, he declared, adding he was convinced “that I am able to meet the high expectations placed in me”.
Senghor had promised never to bid against Ahmad but changed his mind because of the current CAF crisis on and off the field and, in particular, the ongoing FIFA ethics case against Ahmad.
“What has changed is the difficulties that CAF are going through at the moment,” he told Le Soleil.
“There is a procedure pending at the FIFA Ethics Commission concerning President Ahmad.”
Senghor believes he can persuade two of the other French-speaking candidates to drop their bids and join his.
“I spoke to Anouma and Yahya. When the time comes, I will convince them to join me.”
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