“Africa is solidly behind Blatter,” said Kwesi Nyantakyi, the president of the Ghana FA.

Nyantakyi, who is also a Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee member added: "You will find he is very popular on the continent." On May 29, Blatter will seek a fifth term as president that will take him past his 80th birthday.

Dutch football association president Michael van Praag, announced last Tuesday his intention to run following similar moves by former FIFA deputy Secretary General Jerome, Champagne and Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan.

Former France international, David Ginola, has also announced his intention to stand but his is widely regarded as being no more than a publicity stunt. But Blatter's prospective opponents are likely to get little support from the 53 African voters.

"The continent is united behind him," added former South African FA president, Molefi Oliphant, who still serves on the CAF executive. "We made a formal endorsement of his candidacy last year at our meeting in Rio de Janeiro already."

Previous endorsements from CAF, however, have not necessarily translated into votes.

"He has done a lot for the continent. It is he who has set up the financial assistance programmes and who through the Goal project has built infra-structure in all of the countries," added Nyantakyi.

"The Europeans don't understand that. They say it is not his own money but FIFA's but that's not the point.”