January 27 – World federation FIFA has cleared all four candidates, including South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe (pictured) and Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya both whose eligibility had been in doubt, to run in the presidential elections of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
FIFA’s Review Committee also cleared the bids of both Ivorian Jacques Anouma and Senegal FA president Augustin Senghor.
Earlier this month, CAF had said that Motsepe and Yahya’s candidacy needed “further checks” before they could run.
CAF, however, then moved to say that FIFA would step in to determine the candidates’ eligibility because the CAF president automatically becomes a vice-president a the global ruling body. In a statement, CAF wrote that “The Governance Committee of CAF shall submit, to the FIFA Review Committee, which will performa the eligibility check of the candidatures received for the position of CAF president, considering that CAF President is ex officio FIFA vice-president…”
“Happy to announce the approval of my candidature for the position of Caf President and Fifa Vice-President by the Fifa Review Committee,” tweeted Yahya in a reaction. “We have one month left to carry high our ambition for the future of African football.”
Previous CAF president Ahmad Ahmad had already been deemed ineligible to run in the elections. He has been banned for five years by FIFA from all football-related activity for financial misconduct. The Malagasy is appealing his ban at CAS.
The CAF elections will be held in March in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714086699labto1714086699ofdlr1714086699owedi1714086699sni@o1714086699fni1714086699