African federation backs Sheik Salman for FIFA presidency

Japan v South Korea - AFC U23 Championship Final – Abdullah bin Khalifah Stadium, Doha, Qatar – 30/01/16 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) head Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa (R) gives a trophy to Japan's Nakajima Shoya. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari

KIGALI (Reuters) - Bahrain's Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa gained a major boost in his bid to become the next FIFA president when he received endorsement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday.

Salman and Swiss Gianni Infantino are now clear front-runners to win this month's presidential election at soccer's ruling body FIFA, which has been embroiled in a huge corruption scandal that has seen 41 people and entities indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice.