Augustin Senghor: I am favourite to become CAF boss

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Jan 27, 2021. 15:00

Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) president Augustin Senghor has backed himself as the favourite to win the election race for the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) top job.

Alongside Ivorian Jacques Anouma, Senghor is one of just two candidates to have received approval from CAF’s electoral committee to succeed the disgraced Ahmad Ahmad, who was handed a five-year ban by world governing body FIFA for corruption.

The other hopefuls in the running are Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and South African businessman Patrice Motsepe.

The lawyer has been in charge of the FSF for 12 years and, on paper at least, represents the safest pair of hands to take over the running of CAF, given his background and experience in the continental game.

A member of CAF’s Executive Committee since 2019, Senghor was the final candidate to put his hat in the ring, telling a press conference after the General Assembly of the West African Football Union Zone A last weekend that he took time to reflect on the decision to contest the election.

”Often, I give myself time to think things through, I don’t make up my mind quickly,” he is quoted by Inside World Football.

“But when I decide to go, I go all out, and that’s why I present myself as a favourite of this election through my projects and my experience. I am the one with whom FIFA can work to develop African football.”

The election will be held in the Moroccan city of Rabat in March.