Hayatou 'driven by 'passion'

All smiles...Issa Hayatou and Sepp Blatter in Abidjan

Issa Hayatou says he is driven by passion, not ambition, in his battle to unseat Sepp Blatter as the most powerful figure in world football.

"If the verdict is favourable you can count on me bringing the same passion I brought to the candidacy to build up football, without any ulterior motives, " he told BBC Sport Online in Abidjan.

Mr. Hayatou made his comments just hours after Sepp Blatter launched his African campaign, also in Abidjan.

Only the Liberian and Mauritanian associations have shown themselves in favour of Mr Blatter

Issa Hayatou

"I want to bring back serenity to the wider Fifa football family".

He said: "It's time for Africa to get rid of all her complexes. After the last Nations Cup in Mali, many people have been forced to admit the successes of African football."

Clean fight

Hayatou, in the Ivory Coast to attend a youth sport conference, said he was confident of securing the continent's full backing in his bid to become the first African president of Fifa.

"I don't doubt that I will have the support of the majority of Africans, but we need all 52 member countries.

"If we win their support, the battle is won.

"It's only the Liberian and Mauritanian associations that have shown themselves in favour of Mr Blatter but there's a chance that even those two may return to the fold before the election on 29 May," he said.

Mr. Hayatou's analysis of the situation looks extremely optimistic.

Although few countries have come out directly against him, most have so far refused to declare which man they will back.

Although Fifa finances are one of the issues most likely to determine the outcome of the election, Hayatou refused to talk about his recent criticism of the way Blatter has managed football's millions.

"I don't want to hit below the belt. I want it to be a clean campaign."