FIFA Council member Tarek Bouchamaoui has declared his intention to challenge incumbent Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad when the organisation holds its election next year.
Bouchamaoui, who sits on the CAF Executive Committee, announced his Presidential run in a letter to the Tunisian Football Federation (TFF).
The 54-year-old is the first African football official to confirm plans to stand for the top job at the embattled CAF, which is set to hold its Presidential election in Rabat on March 12.
Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad claimed earlier this year that he had not decided whether to run for a second term.
His first four-year stint at the helm of the CAF has been littered with controversy, including allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct.The issues at the CAF prompted FIFA to effectively take over the running of the continental body last July, with Fatma Samoura installed as general delegate for Africa.
CAF boss Ahmad Ahmad is undecided on whether or not to contest
Samurai held the role for six months, but next to no information on what FIFA uncovered has been released.
An independent audit of CAF accounts carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers earlier this year revealed its records were “unreliable and not trustworthy”, although the CAF claimed the report contained “unfounded allegations”.
Bouchamaoui was considered a close ally of former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, whose overthrow in 2011 sparked the Arab Spring protests.
The Tunisian football administrator was also named in connection with tax evasion schemes organised by HSBC’s private bank in Switzerland, but was not charged with any offences.
“I have the honour to confirm my decision to run for the Presidency of the CAF and to request your support and support for my candidacy to guarantee it every chance of success,” he wrote in the letter to the TFF, according to Soccer24.
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