For now, beleaguered Fifa president Gianni Infantino still has some allies in world football, particularly in parts of the world where less well-off football associations have benefited from his presidency.
Infantino’s position has been under scrutiny since his controversial plan to sell stakes in Fifa’s global competitions to private investors was scrapped having been opposed by some regional governing bodies.
Late on Thursday, the executive committee of the African confederation (Caf) unanimously confirmed its support for Infantino, after leading African football administrators sent messages backing him.
Five of the seven African countries on the Fifa Council – Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania and Comoros – have already supported him publicly.
Support from the continent largely stems from Fifa’s Forward programme, a funding scheme Infantino introduced in 2016 that many African federations have become increasingly reliant on to fund football projects in areas where commercial and government investment in the sport is limited.
Morocco
Morocco’s rise as one of Africa’s football success stories has largely been driven by government funding, but the country has also become a key partner for Fifa.
Morocco’s capital, Rabat, is home to Fifa’s Africa regional office, they have hosted Fifa Club World Cups, a women’s U17 World Cup and will co-host the men’s 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) president Fouzi Lekjaa reaffirmed his support for Infantino after he withdrew the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal last week.
In a statement, Lekjaa described Infantino’s decision to withdraw it as “wise”, adding it put the unity of Fifa’s 211 member associations first.
Infantino also received the backing of senior football executives at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, following a turbulent period after the proposal’s collapse.
Egypt
Egypt is home to the Confederation of African Football headquarters and remains one of Infantino’s strongest institutional allies in Africa. The relationship is reinforced by the influence of Hany Abo Rida, a Fifa Council member and one of the continent’s most prominent football administrators, who has maintained close ties with Infantino since his election in 2016.
During Infantino’s presidency, Egypt has benefited from Fifa’s Forward programme, which has funded infrastructure projects, youth development, coach education and women’s football.
Like other African member associations, the Egyptian Football Association has also received increased development funding under Fifa’s expanded investment strategy, while new and expanded football competitions have created additional commercial and sporting opportunities.
But support for Infantino in Egypt is accompanied by growing expectations. Officials and observers increasingly argue that Fifa’s engagement with Africa should extend beyond financial assistance. Greater emphasis is being placed on good governance, transparency, sustainable football development and giving Cafmore room to shape the continent’s own priorities.
What others in Africa have said
The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa, Gayton McKenzie, posted on X saying that Infantino had been “very good to African football”.
“Africa should be cautious in joining the public lynching of Infantino. He has been very good to African football.
“We can debate his ideas but let’s not forget who has been a friend to us. Many of those calling for his head want the old status quo back too.”
Speaking to the BBC after Infantino’s proposal emerged, football officials from Malawi and Uganda said Fifa investment had transformed the game both on and off the pitch, arguing such funding is vital given the financial realities facing many African nations.
“Malawi needs money. Malawi needs stadiums, our government cannot manage to give us even $1m every year for football,” Malawi FA president Fleetwood Haiya told BBC’s Newsday programme.
“Our government is not able to make sure that they have medical supplies in hospitals [and] at the same time to look at football,” he said.
President of the Gambia Football Federation, Lamin Kaba Bajo, told BBC Sport: “As far as I’m concerned, most of my colleagues are concerned, we’ll encourage him [Infantino] to stay, and we’ll do everything within our means to ensure that he is re-elected come next year, 2027.
“That’s my personal opinion as president of the federation, and a good number of African memberships also stand on that line. He is here to stay.”
But support for the project on the continent was not universal. Former Sierra Leone FA president and ex-Fifa Council member Isha Johansen was among African voices opposing it, warning it risked over-commercialising football asking, “What price does one have to pay in order to get to this elevated development for football in Africa?”
By BBC Sports
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