Boost for Nyantakyi as Niger candidate withdraws

(From Kofi Addae, GNA Special Correspondent, Khartoum, Sudan)

Khartoum, Sudan, Feb. 22, GNA - The President of the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) Kwesi Nyantakyi has received a boost to his CAF Executiv= e Committee ambitions following the withdrawal of Hima Soluey of Niger. The former Niger Football Federation head officially communicated his withdrawal to CAF on Monday night ahead of the elections slated for Wednesday, February 23, in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

"We have received the withdrawal notice of Hima Souley," a CAF officia= l told GNA Sports in Khartoum.

The renowned Football Administrator becomes the second person after Togolese Tata Avlessi to withdraw from the race for the Zone West B slot on the CAF Executive Committee. Unlike Avlessi who withdrew in support of Nyantakyi, Souley mentions =91personal reasons' for his action which leaves the journey for a two-ma= n race between the GFA President and Anjorin Moucharafou, President of the Benin Football Federation.

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that politicking in the run up to the elections serves the motivation for the withdrawal of the latest candidate. Nyantakyi, however, seems to appear as the favourite after intensive campaign and lobbying over the past few days to replace incumbent General Seyi Memene of Togo, who is retiring after more than a decade on the position. The FA President is seeking to become the fifth Ghanaian to serve on the CAF Executive Committee after Ohene Djan (1961-1966), Kobina Hagan (1961-1962), Nana Fredua Mensah (1968-1972) and Samuel Okyere (1990-1994).