February 26, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
President of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Isha Johansen, has said the African continent is no longer a key decider in any world football governing body, FIFA, elective congress.
Johansen is among football delegates who are to cast their vote today at the FIFA election in the Swiss capital, Zurich.
Five people – Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali of Jordan, Jerome Champagne, Sheikh Salman and Tokyo Sexwale – are contending to become the next president of the world governing body, with all the candidates still battling to get Africa’s support, which has 54 out of the 209 votes.
Unlike Liberia FA Chief Musa Bility who has thrown his weight behind Prince Ali, the SLFA boss is yet to reveal her choice in public. She told BBC Sports that African votes will not be bloc, like business as usual.
She said: “It’s a cliché; Africa’s vote will not come en bloc, as was in the past, so we are not the key issue any more.”
The African football governing executive committee had earlier call on its members to throw their support for Sheikh Salman, after the continental football governing body officially declared their support for the Bahrain man.
However, the battle for the FIFA presidency seems to be a two way battle between Sheikh Salman, who is considered as favourite because he claims to combine his Asian base with solid African support, while Gianni Infantino of UEFA could sneak it if he could eat into Salman’s African base.