CAF meets in Zurich ahead of Extraordinary FIFA Congress

Acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou has said the coming weeks promises to be one of the most important in the history of FIFA, and global football.

Chairing a meeting of the African Football Confederation (CAF) on Thursday ahead of the Extraordinary FIFA Congress, Hayatou urged soccer leaders to adopt reforms to restore the body’s credibility which has been tainted in recent times.

He called on them to approve the reforms on governance at Friday’s congress.

“This week, I am confident that we will make the right decisions together to help win back credibility as well as the confidence of those who participate in, and love, football,” Hayatou said.

World soccer was plunged into crisis last year after several dozen officials were indicted for corruption.

Five candidates are standing to replace Blatter to try to lead FIFA out of its crisis. Gianni Infantino, the Swiss general secretary of European governing body UEFA, and Asian soccer boss Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain are seen as clear favourites.

South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, former French diplomat Jerome Champagne and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan are the other candidates