Africa will stick by FIFA President Gianni Infantino despite widespread opposition from other continents following the demise of the Swiss’ controversial World Cup investment plan.
Infantino recently jettisoned his plan to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) after his blueprint to sell 20% of a FIFA arm for $4.2 billion to private firms was met with harsh criticism from his European, North American, and Asian counterparts. Football in Europe had even threatened FIFA sanctions for any participating in the global tourney as Infantino backpedaled.
However, Infantino, seeking a second term, retains the staunch backing of CAF and its 54 members. The top honcho, Patrice Motsepe, spoke fondly of Infantino’s support over the years of ‘African’ football: “He is a true friend who has supported ‘African’ football through thick and thin.’’
His comrades-in-arms, including former Morocco FA honcho Fouzi Lekjaa, FIFA Council reps from Egypt, Nigeria as well as Mauritania, hailed FIFA’s reversal while reinforcing allegiance to Infantino.
Much of Africa’s solidarity is attributed to Infantino’s Forward development money to African teams, which is key to funding child development, sports coaches, football venues, and tournaments across the region.
Most importantly, such grants sustain the game in nations where governments offer inadequate backing, and sponsors fail to come on board.
With Infantino likely to come under sustained barrage in the coming weeks or months, it might come down to the wire when Fifa members select a president in 2027.
