This election was made possible thanks to Morocco's strategic positioning in Africa and thanks to the proactive and wise strategy led by Morocco under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, he told reporters following the General Assembly.

"Once more, the Kingdom has confirmed that it has been, sports-wise, a meeting place which led to the conclusion, last week, of the" Rabat Agreement, which allowed Africa to be united over a single program and to take up the same challenges.

For his part, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stressed that "a new page of African football is being written today," with the election of Patrice Motsepe at the head of the CAF. "It was a meeting of Africa's unity. I am happy to have been able to witness this beautiful general assembly," he said.

In addition to Lekjaa, Egyptian Hany Abo Rida, who was seeking a second term, was also elected to the FIFA Council from the Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish language groups. The election of Lekjaa is the first of its kind of Morocco to this world sports body.

Lekjaa, second vice-president of CAF, also holds several posts in world and continental soccer bodies and committees; he is chairman of the CAF finance committee and vice-president of the committee for the organization of inter-club competitions and the management of the club licensing system within CAF, in addition to sitting on the FIFA governance committee.

President of the Algerian Federation, Khreireddine Zetchi, who was also vying for a seat on the FIFA Council, withdrew from the race just before the elections.