The Confederation of African Football has unanimously thrown its weight behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino, delivering a critical boost to his re-election bid as European and other confederations distance themselves from the embattled leader.
CAF’s executive committee confirmed its backing on Thursday, a day after UEFA declared it would boycott future World Cups at all levels while Infantino remains in office. The African bloc, which controls 54 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, has been a consistent pillar of support for Infantino since he took office in 2016.
“The CAF EXCO unanimously reconfirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African football over the years,” the continental body said in a statement.
The endorsement comes as Infantino faces the fiercest revolt of his tenure following an aborted plan to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise and sell commercial rights to future World Cups. The proposal triggered complaints that national federations had been sidelined, prompting Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom to issue a joint update pledging to review the processes that led to the controversy.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe welcomed that pledge but used the moment to stress broader principles. “We are committed to continue working together with FIFA, its member associations, other football Confederations and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance, due process, and transparency global best practises,” Motsepe said.
His stance reflects a delicate balance. Days before the scandal broke, Motsepe had praised Infantino in personal terms, calling him “not just a good friend” but “a loyal friend” who had been “loyal to Africa.” That loyalty, Motsepe suggested, demanded reciprocity.
The African support is not monolithic but coordinated. This week, five of the continent’s most influential football leaders issued individual statements backing Infantino while also welcoming the withdrawal of the commercial rights plan. They include CAF vice president Fouzi Lekjaa of Morocco and FIFA Council members Hany Abo Rida of Egypt, Hamidou Djibrilla of Niger, and Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania. Veron Mosengo-Omba, recently elected president of the DR Congo football federation and former CAF general secretary, added his voice.
FIFA itself issued a statement Wednesday fully backing its president.
The split with UEFA underscores the geopolitical fault lines in global football governance. While European federations demand accountability, Africa’s unified bloc ensures Infantino retains a formidable voting base ahead of next March’s election. For now, the African endorsement provides a shield against isolation, even as the governing body navigates the fallout from a controversy that tested the limits of centralized power.
