By Andrew Warshaw
February 5 – African football officials are due to announce later today whether they will formally endorse the only candidate from their Continent in the FIFA presidential race, Tokyo Sexwale, or to back one of the other contenders.
Sexwale’s candidacy was reported to be hanging by a thread as the campaign to replace Sepp Blatter at the helm of the sport’s corruption-hit world governing body enters the final straight.
Africa’s 54 votes are considered pivotal and Sexwale’s campaign could come to a premature halt if he fails to convince the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) top brass, meeting in Rwanda, he is the right man for the job.
CAF would have backed Michel Platini had the UEFA chief not been banned and withdrawn from the race but now seem likely to switch their support to Asian Football Association chief Sheikh Salman.
However one wrinkle might be that Europe’s candidate Gianni Infantino told reporters on Monday that he had spoken to Platini and that the man who is still technically his boss was supporting his campaign. If that is extending to lobbying then it could become a significant play in the African region, never mind whether this breaks the terms of Platini’s current ban.
CAF president Issa Hayatou, who is also FIFA’s acting president in the absence of Blatter, told French sports paper L’Equipe that his confederation was originally behind Platini.
“If Platini had been a candidate Africa would have voted for him that is sure,” said Hayatou, who strongly hinted Salman might now be the preferred choice, especially given that Sexwale still does have the unequivocal support of his own South African federation.
In what looks very much like a game of cat and mouse, Hayatou added: “Tokyo Sexwale represents South Africa which is a great ally of CAF. We can’t be at odds with him but if he withdraws… we are not against Sexwale but we are waiting for the decision of his own federation who say his campaign has been too low-profile.”
“If we decide to support Salman is it a crime? Who can prevent us from doing this?” he added though of course member associations do not have to automatically follow their executive committee’s lead in what is a secret ballot.
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