After wider consultation with federation presidents from the Cecafa region, where he is the president, Karia has decided to quit the race in order to put more energy and focus on TFF and Cecafa. After supporting Patrice Motsepe of South Africa in the presidential race, there is only one position at Fifa Council for the Anglophone nations remaining.
Mathurin de Chacus of Benin and Mali s Mamadou Toure will fight for the Francophone slot while Hany Abo Rida of Egypt, Morocco s Fouzi Lekjaa and Khreddine Zetchi of Algeria will face off in the race for the Spanish/Arabic/ Portuguese slot.
The elections will be conducted on March 13 in Morocco, where Mamelodi Sundowns owner and South African business tiger Patrice Motsepe is expected to be coronated as the new Caf supremo as he is the only remaining presidential candidate standing.
Pinnick will be joined by Egypt s Hany Abou Rida, Morocco s Fouzi Lekjaa, Mali s Mamoutou Toure, Benin s Mathurin De Chacus and Sierra Leone s Aisha Johansen in the main decision-making organisation of the world football governing body.
Prior to his success at the polls, Pinnick s ambition was backed by the Federal Government of Nigeria in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Nebolisa Anako.
“On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, and all Nigerians, we hereby pledge our unflinching support to Mr Pinnick because his victory would be our collective victory, a part of the statement read.
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