segun-odegbamiFormer Nigeria international Segun Odegbami has announced his intention to become the next Fifa president.
The 63-year-old, who won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations as a player, is the second African to go for football’s top job, after Liberia’s Musa Bility.
“Africa must play a big role in world football,” Odegbami told BBC Sport.
Candidates wishing to replace the outgoing Sepp Blatter have until 26 October to receive the backing of five Fifa members.
Elections will be held on 26 February 2016, with UEFA chief Michel Platini and South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon among those to have already announced their bids.
Brazil great Zico and former Trinidad and Tobago international David Nakhid have also declared their intentions, with a third African – South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale – also considering a bid.
Swiss Blatter announced he was stepping down in June after football’s world governing body was plunged into crisis in late May, when nine Fifa officials were indicted on corruption charges by United States authorities
They, along with five associates, have been accused of bribery and racketeering.
Swiss authorities simultaneously launched a separate investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively.
“The current scandal at Fifa is the organisation’s worst crisis in its 111 years of existence,” Odegbami said in a statement.
“Moving forward, Fifa thus requires a new era of leadership that can restore the dignity of the noble sport.
“The world is very interested in who becomes the next president of Fifa, considering the present images and state of this institution.
I see myself fitting into this role.”
Odegbami added that his bid will have the “highest sense of responsibility, integrity, transparency, probity and accountability”.
He also said he intends to create a “new and optimistic future for football that focuses on human, infrastructural, social and community development …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
