FIFA president Gianni Infantino is pinning his hopes on the continent’s 54‑nation voting bloc as he seeks to shore up support after a $20 billion World Cup commercial‑rights proposal collapsed under global scrutiny.
The Confederation of African Football, known as CAF and headed by South African billionaire Patrick Motsepe, issued a statement on Thursday reaffirming its backing of Infantino, underscoring the continent’s unified stance.
The abandoned deal had drawn criticism from Asia, Europe, North America and even dissenting FIFA staff, forcing the Swiss‑born administrator to withdraw the plan and face a growing coalition of opponents.
A fragile coalition
Africa’s bloc is widely regarded as Infantino’s most dependable base, making it unlikely that rival factions can muster the majority needed to unseat him, even as European nations threaten a boycott.
Maher Mezahi, a veteran football journalist based in Algiers, noted that many senior CAF officials owe their positions to Infantino’s patronage, a factor that further entrenches the alliance.