Sheikh Salman�s FIFA bid gets African boost

AFP, KIGALI: Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa’s bid to take over as FIFA president received a massive boost on Friday with the Asian football chief getting the powerful backing of the African continent.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) agreed to support the Bahraini’s bid to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of world governing body FIFA in an election in Zurich later this month.
“The executive committee decided that CAF will give full support to Sheikh Salman with his candidacy for FIFA presidency,” CAF first vice-president Suketu Patel said after an executive committee meeting during the African Nations Championship tournament in Kigali.
CAF second vice-president Almamy Kabele Camara said the decision to support the 50-year-old Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president had been reached “unanimously”.
Already considered as one of the leading candidates to succeed Blatter along with Swiss Gianni Infantino, the UEFA number two, Sheikh Salman now takes the mantle of favourite.
Africa traditionally play the role of kingmakers in FIFA with 54 votes, the most of any of the world’s regional governing bodies, with the CAF recommendations generally respected to the letter.
European body UEFA have 53 votes, Asia (46), Concacaf (North, Central American and Caribbean (35), Oceania (11) and South America (10). Proof of the importance of Africa, four of the five contenders came to the Rwandan capital seeking to win the support of the continent—Sheikh Salman, Infantino, South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale and Frenchman Jerome Champagne, a former assistant secretary-general of FIFA.

Sheikh Salman�s FIFA bid gets African boost

AFP, KIGALI: Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifas bid to take over as FIFA president received a massive boost on Friday with the Asian football chief getting the powerful backing of the African continent. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) agreed to support the Bahrainis bid to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of world governing body FIFA in an election in Zurich later this month. The executive committee decided that CAF will give full support to Sheikh Salman with his candidacy for FIFA presidency, CAF first vice-president Suketu Patel said after an executive committee meeting during the African Nations Championship tournament in Kigali. CAF second vice-president Almamy Kabele Camara said the decision to support the 50-year-old Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president had been reached unanimously. Already considered as one of the leading candidates to succeed Blatter along with Swiss Gianni Infantino, the UEFA number two, Sheikh Salman now takes the mantle of favourite. Africa traditionally play the role of kingmakers in FIFA with 54 votes, the most of any of the worlds regional governing bodies, with the CAF recommendations generally respected to the letter. European body UEFA have 53 votes, Asia (46), Concacaf (North, Central American and Caribbean (35), Oceania (11) and South America (10). Proof of the importance of Africa, four of the five contenders came to the Rwandan capital seeking to win the support of the continentSheikh Salman, Infantino, South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale and Frenchman Jerome Champagne, a former assistant secretary-general of FIFA.