A continent’s backing
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, is actively courting African football administrators as he prepares for the March 2024 election. The move comes at a time when many African nations rely heavily on FIFA’s development grants to fund infrastructure, medical supplies and training programs.
Five prominent African football leaders have publicly endorsed Infantino, praising his decision to scrap a controversial proposal that would have raised $4.2 billion through a new commercial rights entity. Their statements highlight a broader willingness to protect the financial lifelines that FIFA provides to member associations.
While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not issued an outright endorsement, its leadership has kept Infantino’s candidacy open, offering him a platform of support from its 54 member associations. CAF Vice President Fouzi Lekjaa of Morocco, along with Hany Abo Rida of Egypt, Hamidou Djibrilla of Niger and Ahmed Yhaya of Mauritania, have all voiced their approval.
Veron Mosengo‑Omba, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s football federation and former CAF general secretary, added his voice to the chorus of support, emphasizing the importance of continuity in leadership for the continent’s football development.
Infantino’s 2016 victory was built on promises to double development funding, a pledge that has kept him popular among financially strained African federations such as those from Comoros and Malawi. The expansion of FIFA’s Forward program, which grew funding from the earlier Goal Project, has provided each member association with a baseline $8 million over four years, bolstering the sport’s growth across the continent.