Isha Johansen, the president of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) is “keeping her cards close to her chest” and has not endorsed any candidate for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president in the forthcoming elections.
The position was made public by the federation’s Director of Competition, who also doubles up as the communication officer, Mr. Sorie Ibrahim Sesay.
He dispelled media reports that Isha, the only female FA boss in Africa and candidate for CAF Executive Committee Member, is supporting Mr. Ahmad’s candidature against the incumbent Mr. Issa Hayatou of Cameroon.
“The president of the FA has not made any statement on that, the report is completely misleading, we all know Amaju Pinnick (Nigeria Football Federation) is backing Ahmad but that does not imply the SLFA boss is backing him, she has not made any statement on that as she is keeping her cards close to her chest,” Sesay told footballsierraleone.net.
Ahmad, the Malgasy Football Federation honcho, is giving Haytou’s three-decade reign at CAF a serious challenge and has secured backings from COSAFA, South African football body.
The 57-year-old has also made inroads in the West Zone – securing supports of Pinnick and Musa Bility (Liberia FA).
Hayatou, 71, is pushing a for a record 8th term in office. The FIFA’s Senior Vice President first came to office on 10th March 1988 in Casablanca, Morocco and has since reigned with an iron fist.
To clinch the seat at the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF on March 16th in Addis Ababa, the winner must gunner 28 of the 54 votes up for grabs.
