Cosafa to discuss Nyamilandu’s Fifa candidature
The on-going Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) in South Africa will discuss Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu and other candidates’ intention to contest for Fifa council position.
Nyamilandu wants to replace former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi on the Fifa council during Confederation of African Football (CAF) extraordinary meeting to be held on September 30.
The seat has been vacant since Nyantakyi resigned from all his positions at Fifa, CAF, West Africa Football Union (Wafu) and GFA after investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas exposed him taking bribes to influence the offer of an invitation of players to the national team.
Only member associations propose candidates for the position of member of the Fifa council and FAM has submitted Nyamilandu as its candidate.
Cosafa deputy chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said the Fifa council member nomination was one of the agendas at the EGM.
“The Fifa council seat matter will be discussed at executive committee meeting on Friday and taken to extraordinary general assembly on Saturday [today],” he said.
Nyamilandu faces stiff competition from South Africa Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan and Seychelles Football Federation president Elvis Chetty who are also interested in the post.
Cosafa will support only one candidate from the region to ensure the best chance of success for that individual.
Meanwhile, Nyamilandu has said if successful, his presence in Fifa council will be an achievement for Malawi.
“My success will be a success for Malawi,” he said.
CAF currently has seven members on the Fifa general council, including Fifa vice-president Ahmad Ahmad, who is also president of the CAF and general secretary Fatma Samoura (Senegal).
The other members are Tarek Bouchamaoui (Tunisia), Almamy Kabele Camara (Guinea), Lydia Nsekera (Burundi), Constant Omari (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Hany Abo Rida (Egypt).
Malawi has never had a member both at CAF and Fifa.
