South African Tokyo Sexwale the front-runner for top FIFA job



Nominations for the most important election in Fifa's history closed on Monday night, with eight candidates entering the race to replace Sepp Blatter. World football's governing body will elect a new president on February 26.Tokyo SexwaleSexwale has emerged as the man who could liberate Fifa from its current malaise. He is not viewed as somebody strongly associated with any camp and is tipped to become Fifa's first black president.Chances: 8/10Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-KhalifaHis candidature has already been criticised for allegedly heading a committee that identified 150 athletes involved in prodemocracy demonstrations in 2011, many of whom were later imprisoned and tortured. He denies the allegations.Chances: 7/10Jerome ChampagneFifa's former deputy general secretary may struggle to find support from beyond Europe.Chances: 4/10Gianni InfantinoUefa's general secretary will be the standard-bearer for European interests and will make Fifa reform a central part of his campaign.Chances: 7/10Michel PlatiniThe former French international was favourite to replace Blatter before being suspended by Fifa. He is now an outsider.Chances: 2/10Prince Ali Bin Al HusseinFor some reason, the world football family has not taken to the Jordanian prince, despite his impeccable connections within the game and reputation as a reformer.Chances: 5/10David NakhidCurrently runs a football academy in Lebanon.Chances: 2/10Musa BilityPresident of the Liberian Football Association, he failed to win the backing of the Confederation of African football, although it did wish him "good luck".Chances: 3/10