The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) has thrown its weight behind Dr Patrice Motsepe’s bid for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidency.

Motsepe, the Mamelodi Sundowns owner, will contest for the CAF presidency alongside Mauritanian Ahmed Yahya, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor and Ivorian Jacques Anouma.

Ahead of the elections, Cosafa announced its support for the South African at the end of the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Cosafa announced its support for Motsepe through a statement issued after the meeting in Johannesburg.

 “Dr Motsepe is our candidate, and we endorse him fully,” COSAFA President Dr Phillip Chiyangwa is quoted saying.

“We believe he has the right mix of business acumen and connections in the corporate world to lead CAF through what will be a difficult period in the coming years.

“The name of Dr Motsepe is synonymous with good governance and integrity, and he is the perfect candidate to meet the challenges football on our continent faces.

“FIFA President Gianni Infantino often talks of how unity is required in African football to move the game forward and we firmly believe Dr Motsepe can bring that.”

Cosafa says Motsepe has been travelling across Africa to drum up support for his candidacy.

Cosafa is the biggest CAF block with 14 member associations.

However, each CAF member associations will vote during the elections scheduled for Rabat, Morocco, on March 12 2021.                                                                                                                                  

The four candidates hope to succeed incumbent CAF boss Ahmad who is ineligible to stand for re-election.