Fifa president Gianni Infantino has received a significant boost in his bid for re-election in March 2027, with Africa's 54 member associations pledging their unconditional support for him. Infantino addressed the presidents at a conference in Cape Verde, a first-of-its-kind strategy symposium for African football, which provided a platform to speak to more than a quarter of the 211 voters ahead of the Fifa elections. The Swiss-Italian's candidacy has been bolstered by the support of the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
Caf president Patrice Motsepe confirmed that there is a unanimous decision by the 54 Caf member associations to unconditionally support Infantino as president of Fifa. Motsepe attributed this decision to Infantino's history of support for African football. Infantino has been Fifa president since 2016 and has made significant investments in African football through the Fifa Forward programme. The programme has invested $1bn in 10 years in Africa, with 124 different projects.
Infantino's re-election bid has not been without challenges. Former Switzerland defender Ramon Vega announced on Wednesday that he intends to stand in next year's Fifa presidential election against Infantino. However, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin's decision to seek another term as head of European soccer's governing body has effectively removed one of the highest-profile figures from the field of potential candidates to challenge Infantino.
During the conference, Infantino reminded the Caf presidents of the financial contribution Fifa has made to African football since he was elected in 2016. He expressed his pride in having contributed to the growth of African football over the last 10 years. Infantino also spoke of wanting an open dialogue on matters of disagreement, citing the importance of addressing concerns raised by stakeholders.
Infantino reiterated his support for Africa and confirmed that Fifa would continue to invest in the continent. He emphasized that Fifa's commitment is to ensure that African football continues to improve and grow, providing more opportunities for African teams. Infantino cited the success of ten African countries participating in the last World Cup as an example of the continent's progress.
The Fifa president also emphasized the need for continued collaboration with Caf to identify areas for growth and improvement. He invited Caf to provide feedback on how Fifa can make African football stronger and better. Infantino expressed his willingness to continue seeking resources and increases in funding to boost the African game to the top of world football.
The unconditional support from Africa's 54 member associations is a significant boost to Infantino's re-election bid. With this backing, Infantino is well-positioned to secure another term as Fifa president. The support from African football leaders is a testament to Infantino's efforts to invest in and grow the sport on the continent.
Key points
- Fifa president Gianni Infantino receives unconditional support from Africa's 54 member associations for his re-election in March 2027.
- Infantino has invested $1bn in African football through the Fifa Forward programme since 2016.
- The Fifa president reiterates his commitment to continued investment in African football to boost the game to the top of world football.
