Danny Jordaan, the man responsible for organising the last World Cup, is now seeking to sit on the all-powerful FIFA committee that decides, among other things, where future World Cups will be played.
The 59-year-old South African administrator, whose term as chief executive officer of the 2010 World Cup Organising Committee ends next month, has been nominated by his country for a post on the FIFA executive committee, the 24-man inner cabinet that runs the game and takes all its major decisions.
Two of Africa's four positions on the FIFA executive committee come up for re-election in February, one of them held by Nigerian Amos Adamu, who world football's governing body provisionally suspended last month.
The other African berth up for re-election is held by Jacques Anouma, president of the Ivorian Football Federation, who has not yet made public whether he will seek another four-year term.
Jordaan's experience in football administration, dating back more than two decades, and the successful organising of the World Cup will be key parts of his election campaign.
Traditionally, administrators seeking to work their way up to the FIFA committee serve time first as members of the CAF executive, but Jordaan is attempting both at the same time.
A former history teacher and Parliamentarian, Jordaan almost single-handedly ran South Africa's two World Cup bid campaigns before taking over the organisation of the 2010 finals.
