BREAKING: Mauritania FA chief Ahmed Yahya with CAF Presidential ambition to support Motsepe

Mauritania FA boss Ahmed Yahya has withdrawn his candidature to support Patrice Motsepe to become the new President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The young but influential football administrator said on Saturday night that he was withdrawing to support the South African in the interest of unity among the rank and file of Africa's football governing body in the wake of recent sharp divisions.

Yahya, the highly-regarded federation boss credited for putting his country on the continental football map, becomes the third and final candidate in the race to pull out of the race in the interest of the stability of the continental football governing body.

The decision clears the path for Motsepe to be elected the new President of CAF as Yahya was seen as one of the biggest threats to the ambitions of the billionaire businessman and owner of South African side Sundowns.

This comes after Senegal FA boss Augustin Senghor and veteran former Ivorian FA chief Jacques Anouma revealed their decisions to quit the race to support the South African to give a fresh face to the game in the continent in the wake of recent troubles.

Motsepe was scheduled to face Senghor and rising football administrator Ahmed Yayha and veteran former Ivorian FA chief Jacques Anouma in this month's election.

With the elections due to take place next week in the Moroccan capital of Rabat and the likelihood of wider cracks among the leaders after the polls, Yahya took the decision to support Motsepe to promote unity among the fraternity.

“Today, I would like to announce the decision I have taken, in agreement with my fellow candidates for the Confederation of African Football presidency after frank and fruitful discussions where we took the decision to unify the list of candidates for the CAF presidency, and this by personally withdrawing my candidacy and that of my brothers and colleagues Augustin Senghor and Jacques Anouma” Yahya said in a statement on Saturday night.

“I accepted this decision, after having consulted the supreme authorities of my country, and those who supported my candidacy, after a thorough study of the different possibilities, an analysis and a precise visualization of the situation, keeping in mind the primacy of the supreme interest of African football.

“I am proud to be African. I am proud to love football. I will continue to work hard so that African football is respected in the world for what it is: one of the most beautiful hopes of our beloved continent.

“Now, alongside Patrice Motsepe, Augustin Senghor and Jacques Anouma, it is my turn to give back to African soccer what it has given me. This historic alliance is, in my opinion, the greatest honor for the future of CAF and African Football.

“We will work hand in hand to re-establish the authority of CAF. I call on all Africans and all football lovers beyond their backgrounds, languages and cultures to unite with us so that CAF can get back on the move. I want to tell them that CAF will always be at their side when they need it to make the voice of African football heard in the world.”

The agreement was reached was after a meeting was held in Rabat last week at the instance of the Moroccan FA president Faouzi Lekjaa, Egypt - where CAF is based - and FIFA who are also the other interested part in promoting the concept of unity.

Yahya, a member of the current EXCO of CAF, revealed that his decision has received the blessing of the government of his country that has supported his candidature since he announced his decision to contest.

The CAF Presidential election is scheduled to be held in Rabat, Morocco on 12 March..