26 African nations won't back Sheikh Salman at FIFA - Musa Bility

At least 26 African countries will defy their continental confederation and not vote for Sheikh Salman of Bahrain in the FIFA presidential election, the outspoken head of the Liberia football federation said on Monday.

Musa Bility, who himself failed an integrity check to stand in the Feb. 26 election, said he had spoken to representatives of nearly half of Confederation of African Football members.

"Let me tell you" they won't back Salman, Bility told The Associated Press.

Liberia Football Association president Bility also said he had sent a letter to the head of FIFA's election committee demanding he step down over a "conflict of interest." Domenico Scala should resign because he has the same Swiss nationality as one of the candidates, UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino, Bility said.

"None of the admitted candidates has raised this matter to date, which makes it evident that Mr. Scala's impartiality is not put in question by any of them," FIFA ad-hoc election committee spokesman Andreas Bantel said.

On Friday, Sheikh Salman, the Asian Football Confederation president, was publicly endorsed in the FIFA election by CAF, apparently a major boost to his chances. CAF urged its 54 member countries to vote for the Bahraini royal.

Africa, with the largest number of voting members out of the continental confederations, is set to be a significant battleground in the vote.

But Bility's comments followed assertions by some of Salman's rival candidates that an endorsement by CAF's executive committee does not translate into widespread support among the confederation's member countries.

"As a nation we have the right [to vote for who we want]," Bility said on Monday. "Our rights are not tied with the rights of the executive committee of CAF."

Bility's association announced in the hours after CAF's public show of support for Sheikh Salman that it would instead be voting for Prince Ali of Jordan. Prince Ali said Egypt had also promised him its vote, while South Sudan declared its support for Infantino.

There are five candidates in the running to succeed Sepp Blatter. Salman, Infantino, Ali, former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale. Salman and Infantino appear to be the strongest contenders.

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