North African Football Officials Vie for Coveted FIFA Council Seat

Six representatives from the continent are vying for seats on the FIFA Council for the next four years. Thus, Fouzi Lekjaa, Kheireddine Zetchi and Abu Rida will compete for a place within the prestigious body. Thanks to his experience within FIFA, Abu Rida has a head start over his two competitors. But, forced to resign with his office following the defeat of the Pharaohs during the 2019 CAN at home, Abu Rida, like Ahmad Ahmad, the CAF manager, Constant Omari, 2nd vice-president of the CAF, is the subject of an investigation by the FIFA Ethics Committee, informs Hespress.

As for Fouzi Lekjaa, his candidacy was approved by FIFA last February, for the next General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) which will take place in Rabat on March 12, and during which, the presidents of the African federations will elect their future representatives to the FIFA Council. Lekjaa bases his chances on his very clear and fair vision of African football, in line with the strategy he has established at the level of Moroccan football.

As for Zetchi, he found himself a candidate, following the approval of his appeal related to the rejection of his application for a seat on the FIFA Executive Committee, by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), on Friday, pending a second meeting of a specialized commission. In addition, he received the support of the former Moroccan international and former manager of MCO, Abdeslam Ouaddou. The latter, who publicly praised Zitchi’s merits, faced the disapproval of Internet users.