Gianni Infantino has secured public backing from several senior African football officials as he works to shore up support ahead of his bid for re-election as Fifa president next March.
The endorsements arrive at a delicate moment for Infantino, who recently scrapped a divisive proposal to sell off a stake in future World Cup revenue. The plan, which sought to raise $4.2 billion through a new commercial rights body, had drawn sharp criticism from Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, all of whom have expressed doubts about his leadership. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), by contrast, has stayed notably quiet on the matter, fueling speculation that its 54 member associations could prove decisive in keeping Infantino in power.
CAF had said last week it intended to review Infantino's so-called Fifa Forward Enterprise initiative, but mounting opposition forced him to abandon the scheme within days. Even so, several prominent figures within CAF's executive committee have stepped forward to voice their continued support. Vice President Fouzi Lekjaa of Morocco, along with fellow Fifa Council members Hany Abo Rida of Egypt, Hamidou Djibrilla of Niger and Ahmed Yhaya of Mauritania, all issued statements praising Infantino while acknowledging the shelved project. Veron Mosengo-Omba, newly elected head of the Democratic Republic of Congo's football federation and a former CAF general secretary who studied alongside Infantino in Switzerland, also lent his backing. The topic is expected to feature prominently when CAF's executive committee convenes on Thursday.
The roots of this support trace back to 2016, when African votes proved pivotal in elevating Infantino to the presidency, largely on the strength of his promises to boost development funding for national federations. That financial commitment has continued to pay dividends in loyalty, particularly among associations that depend heavily on Fifa's support to function.
Saïd Ali Athouman, president of the Comoros Football Federation, explained the financial realities many African nations face. "Our problem is how to obtain money. Right now, we have no sponsors. So how do we compete? The richest nations can train players, have infrastructure and equipment, and it's no coincidence that they then achieve results. Most European countries don't have these problems," he said.
Fleetwood Haiya, president of the Football Association of Malawi, offered a similar perspective on the scale of need. "Our government is not able to make sure that they have medical supplies in hospitals and at the same time to look at football. Malawi needs money. Malawi needs stadiums," he said.
Under Fifa's current funding framework, each of its 211 member associations receives a baseline of $8 million over a four-year cycle, in addition to annual grants distributed through CAF. This model of financial support to federations was pioneered by Infantino's predecessor, Sepp Blatter, who used his "Goal Project" to win African backing during his 1998 campaign against Lennart Johansson, despite CAF's formal endorsement of Johansson at the time. Infantino later rebranded and expanded the initiative as "Fifa Forward," significantly increasing the funds available to member nations.
Patrice Motsepe, a leading figure in African football, spoke warmly of his relationship with Infantino shortly before the World Cup revenue controversy broke. "I personally support Gianni Infantino," he said. "He's not just a good friend. He's a loyal friend. He's loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back."
Those ties, built over years of financial assistance and personal connection, are likely to weigh heavily as Infantino seeks to convert African goodwill into decisive electoral support next year.
Based on reporting from The Independent and The Guardian.