Nigerian business man to formally declare running for FIFA Presidency

According to the , who is owned by Kalu, the businessman is currently holidaying in the United States of America is set to return to Nigeria on Monday, October 19.

According to the report, Kalu has been doing some ground works and consulting some powerful football personalities.

Read: Orji Uzor Kalu considers FIFA Presidency

“It is likely he will declare his intention on October 23. He is also expected to pick the form and meet the deadline of October 26 for the submission of forms,” the Sun newspaper source said.

“He has been to almost all the continents and visited countries such as South Korea, Canada, France, England and the United States of America, where he consulted widely on the position.

“We have no doubt that if he runs, he will win. The football administrator the world needs today is not necessarily a footballer, but somebody who has the connections and can handle all the cartels associated with football.

Read: Sepp Blatter quits FIFA presidency

Kalu, a businessman with oil, tourism and other interests in West Africa is aiming to replace outgoing President, Sepp Blatter.

Blatter, at the helm since 1998, announced in June he would step down as FIFA was rocked by an investigation into soccer corruption.

The United States indicted 14 sports marketing executives and soccer officials, including several from FIFA on bribery, money laundering and wire fraud charges.

UEFA president Michel Platini, a former French international, is considered the front-runner among the list of candidates who have said they want to run for the FIFA presidency at an extraordinary meeting next year, February 26.

Read: Prince Ali does not want FIFA elections delayed

Others include Chung Mong-joon, the scion of Korea's Hyundai industrial conglomerate, Liberian football association president Musa Bility and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan.

Some other former players also intend to run including Zico, who played at three World Cups for Brazil, former Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder David Nakhid and Kalu's compatriot Segun Odegbami.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has said it would only back a candidate who met stringent conditions, including endorsement from the relevant state football association and a letter of support from the National Sports Commission.