FIFA president urges world to ‘respect’ Africa

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has urged world football leaders seeking the FIFA presidency to “respect” Africa for its contribution to the beautiful game as displayed by African teams’ via their sterling performances at Brazil 2014.

During the tourney, two African teams for the first time reached the group of 16 at the finals, Blatter noted in a press report on Saturday.

Blatter, speaking ahead of next week’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) congress taking place in Cairo, Egypt, said: When we travel to Cairo for the CAF congress, we must show African football all the great appreciation and respect it deserves.

The 79-year-old FIFA President, facing three rivals for his position in May polls, said the refreshing skills and technical finesse of the African teams were among the greatest attractions at the World Cup.

Credit for this development must also go to CAF President Issa Hayatou, said Blatter, whose tenure has seen the financing of the much appreciated African football infrastructure development with his Goal Projects.

Using strategic wisdom and sure instinct in the world of sports politics, he has succeeded in keeping this vast continent together in all its linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversity, Blatter praised Hayatou, a Cameroonian national.

Africa’s 54 members of CAF have long been strong supporters of Blatter and have said they will back him in the 30 May FIFA election over his rivals for the FIFA presidency-Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, who is also a FIFA vice president; Dutch federation chief Michael van Praag and former Portugal star Luis Figo-are expected to be in Cairo for the CAF congress as well.