ZURICH: Candidates are making their final pitches to secure votes for Friday's election to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

The first confederations meeting Thursday were the CONCACAF and Oceania regions.

Outsider Tokyo Sexwale, a former Robben Island political prisoner, says "I have come this far. I am used to obstacles."

The South African adds that "FIFA is a house broken and needs to be repaired" but stressed "football is not broken."

The favorite is Asian soccer confederation president Sheikh Salman. UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, former FIFA vice president Prince Ali of Jordan and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne are also in the running.

Blatter decided to step down amid investigations into widespread wrongdoing in soccer.