TheCable

Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, has called on the world of football to respect African soccer.

Blatter, who’s seeking re-election in May, made this call ahead of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) congress.

Blatter is attending next week’s congress in Cairo, Egypt.

“We must show African football all the great appreciation and respect it deserves,” he said in his column in The FIFA Weekly magazine.

And he feels that “the refreshing skills and technical finesse of the African teams are among the greatest attractions at the World Cup”.

The 79-year-old also gave kudos to his long-time ally, Issa Hayatou, who has supported him during his four terms in office.

“Credit for this development must also go to CAF president Issa Hayatou,” he said.

“Using strategic wisdom and sure instinct in the world of sports politics, he has succeeded in keeping this vast continent together in all its linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversity.

“The power of football is arguably even more significant in Africa than the rest of the world because it symbolises a common denominator for all peoples, nations and tribes.”

CAF’s meeting in Cairo will also be attended by Blatter’s three rivals for the FIFA presidency – Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, a FIFA vice-president, Dutch federation boss Michael van Praag and former Portugal legend Luis Figo.

FIFA election will hold in the May 29th congress and CAF – the biggest voting block on the world football governing body with 54 members – will have a significant say in the outcome.