The Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) region is still backing Madagascar FA President, Ahmad Ahmad, for the upcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential elections, according to the southern African regional body president, Dr. Philip Chiyangwa.

COSAFA announced their endorsement of Ahmad in February and Chiyangwa says the region has not changed its position.

“The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA), at its recent meeting agreed to support sitting COSAFA Region Presidents in the upcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee elections. Consequently, COSAFA would like to reiterate that it will support the candidature of Ahmad Ahmad for the position of CAF President,” reads a statement from Dr. Chiyangwa.

COSAFA has also announced its backing of Namibia’s Frans Mbidi for the CAF Executive committee members election. Mbidi is the COSAFA vice president.

Hayatou is facing his biggest election in many years having been at the helm since 1988 and is seeking an 8th term in office.

A number of FA president’s including those outside of the Cosafa region believe it’s time for change in African football. Nigeria, Djibouti and Liberia are the other countries that have also backed Ahmad ahead of the election set for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the 16th of March.