KIGALI, Bahrain `(Reuters) – Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa received a major boost in his bid to become the next FIFA president when he received endorsement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) yesterday.Salman and Swiss Gianni Infantino now appear to be the frontrunners to win this month’s presidential election at soccer’s ruling body FIFA, which has been embroiled in a huge corruption scandal that has seen 41 people and entities indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The governing body of soccer in Africa, which has 54 full voting members, said Asian Football Confederation president Salman was its preferred candidate for the poll in Zurich on February 26 that will determine who succeeds Swiss Sepp Blatter.
“CAF will give full support to Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa towards his candidacy for the FIFA presidency,” vice-president Suketu Patel told reporters before declining to answer questions.
Salman already has the backing of his own Asian confederation while Infantino, general secretary of UEFA, has the support of his European organisation along with the 10-member South American confederation CONMEBOL.
“I am deeply honoured to have earned the trust of many of our African friends at this crucial stage of the campaign effort,” Salman said in a statement.

SECRET BALLOT
“The two endorsements only mean there is a strong groundswell in favour of my candidacy. What they don’t mean is that I can sit back and relax. This campaign will be decided on the day of the vote, not before.
“Naturally I am confident I now have a reasonably strong position to work from with such support,” added Salman.
The FIFA poll will be a secret ballot and the support of executive committees for candidates does not necessarily translate into a united block of votes.
The decision is a blow to South African candidate Tokyo Sexwale who had been aiming to get the support of his own continent but has recently been under pressure to withdraw.
A spokesman for Sexwale was not available for immediate comment.
CAF listened to presentations from Salman, Sexwale, Infantino and Frenchman Jerome Champagne, the former FIFA deputy general secretary, who all travelled to Rwanda to attend the meeting.
The fifth candidate, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, did not attend.

By Clement Uwiringiyimana