The Nigeria Football Federation has said it will not support Issa Hayatou’s bid for an 8th term at the top of Confederation of African Football.
Hayatou faces opposition from Ahmad Ahmad, the head of Madagascar’s FA.
NFF president, Amaju Pinnick told the BBC Sports that the election will be “a defining moment for African football”.
He said Ahmad was “courageous” in coming forward to challenge Hayatou.
Pinnick said CAF needs a “new generation” of leadership, following the change at the top of the world governing body FIFA.
He cited “post election differences between Gianni (Infantino, the new FIFA president) and Issa Hayatou which are irreconcilable”.
Infantino will be in Johannesburg later on Tuesday for a gathering of football federation leaders from across the continent.
He is then due to visit Zimbabwe at the invitation of the head of the southern African confederation, Cosafa – which also backs Ahmad.
Madagascar FA chief Ahmad Ahmad is a member of CAF’s Executive Committee
Pinnick acknowledged that Hayatou could still win – but said if he did, the veteran Cameroonian would need to be open to different influences.
“You have to listen to a larger audience instead of just a tiny cabal, you have to know it goes beyond you,” Pinnick said.
“I will definitely work with him if he wins but my prayer is we need a bridge builder and that person is Ahmad.”
