BY Victor Akhidenor
Former Nigeria international, Segun Odegbami, says it wouldn’t be difficult getting five football federations to back his bid for FIFA presidency.
The 63-year-old announced his intention to become the next FIFA president on Tuesday.
According to FIFA rules, all potential candidates must have played an active role in football for at least two years and have the backing of at least five member associations.
Odegbami is actively involved in the game as he runs a football academy in Nigeria. He tells TheCable his plans in meeting the other condition.
“It’s too early to say the five federations that will back my bid because I only declared my intention yesterday,” he said.
“But then that’s easy to achieve and before you ask me how I intend going about it, I won’t reveal it to you now. That’s my strategy which I will unveil in a matter of days’ time.”
Odegbami, 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.
He released a statement after he announced his intent to run for the exalted position.
“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.”
And like Liberia FA president Bility before him, Odegbami says it is high time that FIFA was led by an African.
“The choice of an African, specifically a Nigerian, may look far-fetched in this pursuit, noting the international coverage of FIFA and the historical trend in its leadership reputation,” he said.
“However, a closer scrutiny of the international football environment reveals the real possibility of such change.”
After calling time on a successful playing career which lasted between 1976 and 1981, Odegbami became an author, journalist and football commentator.
“Football is what my entire life has revolved around,” he said.
“My life’s ambition has always been to use football to make a difference in my local space and across the world.”
Candidates wishing to replace the outgoing Sepp Blatter have until October 26 to receive the backing of five FIFA members.
Elections will be held on February 26, 2016, with UEFA chief Michel Platini and South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon among those to have already announced their bids.
The legendary Brazilian Zico and former Trinidad and Tobago international David Nakhid have also declared their intentions.
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.
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