While the support of CAF, often seen as a key battleground in the election, reaffirmed Shaikh Salman's position as the front-runner in the five-strong race, it didn’t necessarily mean all 54 of the African Associations would vote for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President. 

UEFA general secretary Infantino gained South Sudan's support after meeting with the President of the country’s Football Association, Chabur Goc Alei, in Juba.

"We are supporting Mr. Gianni Infantino for the FIFA Presidency," Alei told The Associated Press. 

"Any [voter] has the right to choose whoever they want.

"It is not compulsory from CAF telling any Member Association he has to vote for Shaikh Salman."

Alei said Infantino, who has voting pledges in three of FIFA's six continental Confederations, had a better project "for our Federation, for Africa and the world".

He said he expects more African nations to support Infantino, who became UEFA’s candidate after President Michel Platini was prevented from running due to the disloyal payment scandal that saw him banned from football for eight years.

"He will be the first of many others in this great continent," said Infantino in referring to Alei's vote. 

Liberia has followed Egypt as the second African voter to pledge support for Prince Ali of Jordan since CAF endorsed Shaikh Salman’s candidacy.

Prince Ali's campaign team has published a three-page letter of endorsement signed by Liberia Football Association President Musa Bility.

Bility, a candidate himself before failing an integrity test last year, wrote that Prince Ali "represents real change", while other candidates are "not even prepared to criticise" the FIFA system.

"Deeply honoured by the support of Liberia as we work across the world to bring the change needed for FIFA's future," Prince Ali, a former FIFA vice-president, wrote on his Twitter account.

It was previously alleged by Prince Ali that an agreement signed by Shaikh Salman, on behalf of the AFC, and the CAF was a "blatant" attempt to secure a bloc-vote for the Bahrain citizen.

This was denied, with the bodies claiming the deal was penned simply to ensure the two Confederations worked closer together on the development of football. 

The other candidates for the FIFA Presidency are Frenchman Jérôme Champagne, and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, who doesn’t plan to pull out, despite the major setback of not earning the backing of his own continent.

Sexwale's campaign has come under criticism from the South African Football Association, who asked him to "come and explain himself" following what they described as a "low-key" campaign to date.

A senior official from the organisation has reportedly suggested he "discontinue his campaign" as a result of failing to gain the support of his home Confederation.

Sexwale has offered very little in the way of suggesting how he would reform the corruption-hit governing body and recently hinted he may consider striking a deal ahead of the election, declaring the "time for alliances had arrived". 

The election to decide Sepp Blatter's successor will take place in Zurich on February 26.