Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), has announced his intention to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in next year’s election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Tashima said his ambition is to promote integrity, transparency and high ethical standards in global football, drawing inspiration from the principles that have guided Japanese football over the years.

“I believe it is important to clearly communicate to the world of football the integrity, soundness, and high moral standards that Japanese football has cherished and built up over the years,” he said.

“I have decided to run for Fifa presidential election in order to convey this philosophy to the world and contribute to a better future for football.

“I will take on this challenge with strong determination, making use of the experience I have cultivated so far, and contributing to the further development of world football.”

Tashima’s declaration comes amid growing scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership, particularly following the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

FIFA reportedly abandoned the proposal in late July after facing widespread opposition from stakeholders across the football community.

However, Infantino’s re-election campaign received a boost after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) endorsed his bid, following a change of position by its president, Sheikh Salman.

In October, Infantino also told BBC Sport that he had the backing of the “vast, vast majority” of world football as he seeks a fourth term in office.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega was the first candidate to announce his intention to challenge Infantino in October. Tashima has now joined the contest.

JFA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto welcomed Tashima’s decision, describing it as an opportunity to contribute to the development of world football and showcase the values of Japanese football.

Candidates have until November 18 to declare their intention to contest the election. However, Tashima and other aspirants must obtain nominations from at least five FIFA member associations to qualify for the presidential race.

Former campaign spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, Segun Showunmi, has been seen in a viral video celebrating the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the former Vice-President’s presidential ticket on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The video, which has circulated widely on social media, shows Showunmi clapping, laughing and dancing shortly after the judgment was delivered.

Showunmi, who has consistently criticised Atiku’s defection to the ADC, said the court’s decision had vindicated his earlier warnings about the coalition’s legal standing.

“I forewarned. I told them this would happen. They did not listen,” he said.

He recalled that his concerns had previously been dismissed as bitterness and jealousy when he questioned the legal status of the coalition that took control of the ADC.

“When I was shouting, they said I was bitter. When I warned, they said I was jealous. Now the court has spoken,” he added.

Showunmi had repeatedly argued that Atiku should have remained in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and worked towards rebuilding it instead of joining a coalition he described as a gathering of aggrieved politicians without a solid political structure.

He also predicted that the coalition’s takeover of the ADC, led by former Senate President David Mark, would eventually collapse in court.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the Mark-led caretaker committee was illegal and nullified the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.

The court also removed all the party’s national officers, including National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, and voided the list of candidates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 elections.

The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the leadership change that followed the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

Watch the video below: