Renowned for his successful oversight of the 2010 World Cup, South African administrator Danny Jordaan is now setting his sights on a prominent position in international football once again. Despite encountering several setbacks following his tenure as the World Cup boss, Jordaan’s determination remains unwavering as he seeks to secure a place on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The final decision rests with the congress, which is scheduled to convene in Marrakech, Morocco, on Sunday.
During an interview with Reuters, Jordaan expressed his optimism, saying, “I firmly believe I stand a good chance. However, it is ultimately the congress that will hold the power to decide.”
This marks Jordaan’s second attempt to secure a position within African football’s inner cabinet. His previous bid, which took place two years ago during the elections in Sudan, ended in defeat. Furthermore, he withdrew his candidacy at the last minute for one of the African seats on the FIFA executive committee, a move that proved disadvantageous amidst political maneuvering.
Last year, Jordaan’s aspirations to preside over the southern African regional body Cosafa were dashed, further tarnishing his reputation as a skilled politician with influential connections to key FIFA officials. Nevertheless, this time around, the 61-year-old administrator stands a stronger chance due to the decision to allocate an additional place on the committee for a southern African representative.
The upcoming elections will serve as the focal point of the congress, with CAF president Issa Hayatou expected to be reelected unopposed for another four-year term. Jacques Anouma, Hayatou’s rival, failed in his attempt to challenge the disqualification of non-executive committee members from the election. The Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Switzerland, rejected Anouma’s appeal earlier this week.
Hailing from Cameroon, Hayatou will extend his remarkable 29-year tenure in charge after successfully implementing new election regulations in September of last year. These rules state that only CAF executive committee members with full voting rights are eligible to run for the presidency. Anouma, the former president of the Ivory Coast Football Federation, serves on the committee as a FIFA executive committee member but lacks voting privileges.
Amadou Diakite, a former FIFA member from Mali, also seeks a place on the CAF executive committee. However, he faces challenges as he was banned by the world football governing body for two years in November 2010 due to allegations of bribery in the vote-buying scandal surrounding the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Danny Jordaan’s ongoing pursuit of a prominent role in African football administration continues as he seeks a place on the CAF executive committee. Despite past setbacks, Jordaan remains optimistic about his chances in the upcoming elections, while Issa Hayatou is poised to secure another term as CAF president. The congress in Marrakech will play a decisive role in shaping the future of football governance on the African continent.
