There may never be a contest tomorrow when the incubent Confederation of Africa President, Issa Hayatou and challenger from Madagascar go into the battle for the top job of continent’s football, after Nigeria and South Africa had a last minute change of heart to back the Camerounian.
Federal Government of Nigeria through its Ministry of Sports had persuaded Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, to change his stance and cast the nation’s vote for the CAF longest serving President, Hayatou.
The CAF poll is billed for tomorrow, (Thursday) at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, at the on-going CAF extra-ordinary assembly where Pinnick is also expected to contest for a seat in the executive arm of the football organisation.
Hayatou, who has been ruling CAF since 1988, is scheduled to wrestle power with the a candidate from Madagascar, Ahmad Ahmad, while Pinnick goes to poll against Republic of Benin Football President, Anjorin Moucharafou.
At the same time, South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, had pledged his full support to CAF president Issa Hayatou ahead of African football’s upcoming elections.
It followed a meeting on Saturday morning when President Zuma received Hayatou at his residence in Pretoria.
The meeting came just six days after the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) announced it was endorsing Hayatou’s rival Ahmad Ahmad as a Caf presidential candidate.
South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, South African Football Association
President Danny Jordaan and Mamelodi Sundowns President Patrice Motsepe were also present at Saturday’s meeting with President Zuma.
