Issa Hayatou met with president Zuma last weekend in Johannesburg, during the Africa Super Cup tie between Mamelodi Sundowns and TP Mazembe.

After the meeting, a statement on CAF website declared that Zuma had thrown his weight behind Hayatou’s bid for another term, who has been on the saddle since 1988.

However, Fikile Mbalula the South African Sports minister had this to say, “After being informed of Mr. Hayatou’s candidacy by South Africa Football Association president Danny Jordaan, President Zuma wished him good luck as he would have done to the other candidates….. President Zuma has not given his personal support nor that of the South African government to Hayatou.”

The denial of the South African’s government to endorse is a major blow to Hayatou’s ambitions of thronging to the post. He is feeling the threat ahead of the elections as most of the Football Associations are meeting in Zimbabwe for ZIFA’s boss Philip Chiyangwa, who in turn is the campaign manager for Ahmad Ahmad, Hayatou’s candidacy rival who is longing for the hot seat.