FIFA presidential candidate Luis Figo "believes incumbent Sepp Blatter does not have support from the whole of Africa in his bid for re-election," according to the BBC. Figo's view "contradicts a statement made on Tuesday" by Confederation of Africa Football President Issa Hayatou at his body's congress in Cairo. Hayatou said that "all its members would vote for Blatter" in the May 29 election. Figo: "I'm positive that Mr. Hayatou did not speak in the name of the 54 members of the confederation. ... In fact there were federation presidents who assured me they would vote for me but they were reluctant to say this out loud because they feared reactions against them, their federations and even their countries. To end this kind of atmosphere is why I decided to be a candidate." Figo is one of three challengers to Blatter, "who is seeking his fifth term in office." When Blatter was first elected as FIFA president in '98, Hayatou "pledged Africa's votes to rival Lennart Johansson of Sweden but most defied him to vote the Swiss into power" (BBC, 4/8).
