Key facts
- Fifa President Gianni Infantino retains significant support from African football federations.
- Five of the seven African Fifa Council members have publicly backed Infantino.
- African federations have benefited from Fifa's Forward programme, funding various football projects.
- Key figures like Morocco's Fouzi Lekjaa and Egypt's Hany Abo Rida have reaffirmed their support.
- Some African voices, like former Sierra Leone FA president Isha Johansen, have opposed Infantino's proposals.
- Caf president Patrice Motsepe described Infantino as "a good friend" loyal to Africa.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino appears to retain considerable support within African football, despite facing scrutiny over certain proposals. Five of the seven African nations represented on the Fifa Council have publicly declared their backing for Infantino. This support is largely attributed to the Fifa Forward programme, a funding initiative introduced in 2016 that has become crucial for many African football federations to finance development projects where other investment is scarce.
Morocco, a key partner for Fifa and co-host of the 2030 World Cup, has reaffirmed its support through its federation president, Fouzi Lekjaa, who described Infantino's decision to withdraw the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal as "wise." Egypt, home to the Confederation of African Football headquarters, remains a strong institutional ally, with Fifa Council member Hany Abo Rida maintaining close ties with Infantino. The Egyptian Football Association has benefited from infrastructure funding, youth development, and coach education through the Forward programme.
The Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) also welcomed the withdrawal of the FFE proposal, highlighting Infantino's decade of work promoting football globally, particularly his support for African nations. Fecofa president Véron Mosengo-Omba assured Infantino of continued support. Similarly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has largely aligned itself with Infantino, with former NFF president Amaju Pinnick arguing that Infantino's plans offer a vital financial boost.
Other African football officials have also voiced support. South Africa's Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, stated Infantino has been "very good to African football." Officials from Malawi and Uganda emphasized the transformative impact of Fifa investment, noting the financial realities of their national federations. The President of the Gambia Football Federation expressed a personal opinion to encourage Infantino's re-election in 2027.
However, support is not universal. Former Sierra Leone FA president Isha Johansen opposed the FFE proposal, warning of over-commercialization. Caf president Patrice Motsepe lauded Infantino's "excellent work" and loyalty to Africa, stating, "When people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back."