South African billionaire, Patrice Motsepe has had his path completely cleared to become the next president of the Confederations of African Football, CAF.
This follows the official withdrawal of all three candidates for next week’s election at the African football governing body.
Mauritanian candidate, Ahmed Yahya officially announced his withdrawal and that of his two fellow candidates on Saturday March 6, 2021. In a statement, the football administrator declared he and his colleagues will be throwing their weights behind the South African for the progress of the continent’s football.
“Today, I would like to announce the decision I have taken, in agreement with my fellow candidates for the CAF presidency after frank and fruitful discussions,” the statement partly read.
“We took the decision to unify the list of candidates for the CAF presidency and this by personally withdrawing my candidacy and that of my brothers and colleagues Augustine Senghor, and Jacques Anouma.”
“Alongside Patrice Motsepe, Augustine Senghor and Jacques Anouma, it is my turn to give back African soccer what it has given to me. This historic alliance is, in my opinion, the greatest honour for the future of CAF and African football,” the statement added.
The move announced on Saturday entails that the president of South African outfit Mamelodi Sundowns will run unopposed in the March 12 election.
Former president, Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar who ousted Cameroonian Issa Hayatou in 2017, was declared ineligible to run after his suspension for crimes relating to mismanagement of funds and abuse of power.
The withdrawal of the various candidates has been positively received by a fraction of Africans while others describe it as a ‘FIFArisation’ of African football due to recent numerous interventions into CAF affairs by FIFA presidemt Gianni Infantino who reportedly advised all three candidates to withdraw.
This post was initially published by Kick442.com and reproduced under license as an official media partner.
Discussion about this post