Burkina Faso and Benin back Hayatou as FIFA president (21.05.2002)
COTONOU
African Football Confederation (CAF) chief Issa Hayatou on Monday received the backing of Burkina Faso and Benin in his bid to wrestle the FIFA presidency from Sepp Blatter.
Hayatou is the sole challenger to Blatter in the election in Seoul on May
"We are awaiting instructions from our government. But one thing is sure - Burkina Faso will vote for Hayatou," said Burkina Faso Football Federation president Seydou Diakite.
"By this choice the FBF wants to show solidarity with the African candidate," he added.
Hayatou visited Ouagadougou
last March to gain support for his election bid for the top job in world soccer`s governing body and was received by president Blaise Compaore.
An official from the Benin federation told AFP that they had received an order from the country`s government to vote for Hayatou which they would comply with.
"We received notification from the sports minister during a working session. It`s clear and it`s no longer a secret the government have asked us to support Issa Hayatou," said the FBF official, adding that "safeguarding the honour of the African continent" was behind the move
