Issa Hayatou says he is confident of being re-elected to African football`s top administrative post early next year. The Cameroonian is standing for re-election as Caf president against Ismail Bhamjee of Botswana at the Caf Congress on 22 January.
At the conclusion of his visit to Ghana, Hayatou told this website that he would not have stood for re-election if he knew he was going to lose.
He declared: "I never go into anything if I`m not sure of winning."
Hayatou, who has been at the helm of African football for 16 years, also said that there will be no ill-feeling between him and Bhamjee after the elections.
"Bhamjee
and I are friends, and we`ll still be friends after the elections."
Hayatou spent three days in Ghana at the invitation of President John Kuffour to discuss "the way forward for African football."
But both parties also used the visit to advance their own interests.
Hayatou admitted that he had taken advantage of the occasion to solicit Ghana`s support in the race for the Caf presidency.
"I have the assurance of President Kuffour that Ghana will vote for me," said a confident Hayatou.
For Ghana, meanwhile, Hayatou`s trip was an opportunity to sound him out on their bid to host the 2008 Nations Cup finals.
