ACTUALITE |
22.03.2002
Nigeria backs Hayatou against Blatter
The Nigerian Football Association has pledged its support to Caf president Issa Hayatou in his bid to oust Sepp Blatter as Fifa president. "Only an African can protect the interest of Africans," said Nigeria`s representative on the Caf executive board, Amos Adamu.
Hayatou will stand against Blatter in the elections for the Fifa presidency on May 29, and looks set to have the support of virtually all of Africa.
"Nigeria will gain a lot by throwing its weight behind Hayatou," Adamu went on. "Hayatou has done a great deal to improve the fortunes of African football during his tenure as president of Caf.
"Apart from getting more World Cup slots for Africa, there has also been a marked increase in the number of Africans on the executive committee of Fifa, and we cannot forget that he has constantly promoted the African Champions` League. If he is elected as president, he will definitely do more."
And Adamu admitted that he could not understand why Hayatou did not have the backing of every African nation, accusing those who do not support him of being "saboteurs".
"There are four of them, and we have identified them," he said. "They are not working for the interests of the African continent."
The African vote was split in 1998 when Caf tried to encourage support for Lennart Johansson, and the wounds from that rift are only just healing.
But Nigeria will not support Hayatou without certain guarantees. "We have our interests, and we will discuss this with him," he said. "I am confident that Nigeria can only benefit from this. Even if Hayatou does not win, we have nothing to lose."
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Hits: 1 | Source:One Football | |
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