The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) has unanimously endorsed Football Association of Malawi (Fam) President Fleetwood Haiya for the post of Confederation of African Football (Caf) Executive Committee Member ahead of next year’s polls.
Haiya was endorsed during the Cosafa annual general meeting (AGM) held in Harare, Zimbabwe, at the weekend.
This means Haiya will contest for the Caf Cosafa slot during the continental football governing body’s elections, which are slated for next year.
In an interview Monday, Haiya described his endorsement as an honour.
“I am equally humbled and honoured by the unanimous endorsement and trust bestowed upon me by all Cosafa presidents to represent our region at continental level as Cosafa’s candidate for the position of Caf Executive Committee Member at the forthcoming Caf elections in early 2027.
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“I sincerely thank all the Cosafa presidents for the confidence and unity demonstrated through this collective decision,” Haiya said.
Haiya, who is also a member of the Fifa Future of Football Committee, will likely compete with other candidates from within the region for the post.
This is the second time for a Fam sitting president to earn Cosafa backing after Haiya’s predecessor, Walter Nyamilandu, was also endorsed for a similar post, which he successfully won during elections held in Ivory Coast in 2023.
Then, Nyamilandu got the seat after beating the-then incumbent Mohamed Ally Sobha of Mauritius by 35 votes to 15.
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Mokhosi Mohapi from Lesotho got three votes.
Sports analyst George Kaudza-Masina said Haiya’s endorsement was a vote of confidence.
“Cosafa endorsing Haiya on the Cosafa slot at Caf is twofold. Firstly, it is a vote of confidence among his peers at Cosafa and, secondly, [it is] a tactical approach and compromise on the just-ended Cosafa elections. In such elections, a spirit of give and take does play a role. As you can see, Haiya did not participate in the Cosafa elections as he was earmarked for the Caf position.
“This is a big recognition of our football, and Haiya in particular, and let us hope no member state rebels against Cosafa’s endorsement as it has happened before, when a ‘rebel’ candidate carried the day,” Kaudza Masina said.
Meanwhile, Botswana Football Association ( BFA) President Tariq Babitseng was elected Cosafa president unopposed whereas Alfred Randriamanampisoa (Madagascar) is the new vice president.
Committee members are Brenda Kunda of Football Association of Zambia, Lijane Nthunya of Lesotho, Nqobile Magwizi (Zimbabwe Football Association), Robert Shimooshili of Namibia Football Association and Peter Simelane of eSwatini.
