FIFA's African vice president Issa Hayatou says he is not publicly backing a candidate in the election to succeed Sepp Blatter.

The Confederation of African Football seems unlikely to unite behind its own contender, though it has more than one-quarter of FIFA's member federations.

South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale is "weighing all options" before the Oct. 26 deadline to be nominated by five of the 209 FIFA members.

Still, Hayatou tells The Associated Press "it's a decision for Africa to support a candidate. It's not for me to support someone."

Hayatou says he spoke by telephone with Sexwale but doesn't know the FIFA discrimination task force member's intentions.

Sexwale, a longtime confidante of Nelson Mandela, probably would need most of CAF's 54 votes to challenge current election front-runner Michel Platini.

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