‘AFRICA MUST PLAY A BIG ROLE IN WORLD FOOTBALL’ – ODEGBAMI TO STAND FOR FIFA PRESIDENCY

Former Nigeria national team star Segun Odegbami has announced his candidacy for the Fifa presidency by describing the current crisis rocking the world football governing body as the ‘worst in its 111 years of existence’.

An election will be held at an Extraordinary Congress on February 26 to decide Blatter's successor after he announced earlier this year he will step down as president of football's world governing body.

Uefa president Michel Platini , Brazil legend Zico, former Trinidad and Tobago international David Nakhid and South Korea Chung Mong-joon have also announced their candidacy, but the Nigeria believes he is the right man for the job because he will make the necessary changes to the organisation.

"The current scandal at Fifa is the organisation's worst crisis in its 111 years of existence," Odegbami said in a statement.

"Moving forward, Fifa thus requires a new era of leadership that can restore the dignity of the noble sport.

"The world is very interested in who becomes the next president of Fifa, considering the present images and state of this institution. I see myself fitting into this role.”

The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner included that his bid will have the "highest sense of responsibility, integrity, transparency, probity and accountability" as he intends to create a "new and optimistic future for football that focuses on human, infrastructural, social and community development across the world."

"The choice of an African, specifically a Nigerian, may look far-fetched in this pursuit, noting the international coverage of Fifa and the historical trend in its leadership reputation," he continued.

"However, a closer scrutiny of the international football environment reveals the real possibility of such change.

"Football is what my entire life has revolved around. My life's ambition has always been to use football to make a difference in my local space and across the world,” he concluded.

The 63-year-old who is the second African  to declare intentions for the football’s top job after Liberia’s Musa Bility failed in his attempt to become president of the Nigeria Football Federation and also headed Nigeria’s Bid Management Committee to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

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