Does Africa still back Infantino as Fifa president?
The African confederation has yet to take an official stance, but where do the key African footballing nations stand on the Infantino saga?
Gianni Infantino's presidency as Fifa president remains a contentious issue, yet he continues to garner support from various African football associations. The African confederation (Caf) recently unanimously affirmed its backing for Infantino, following the endorsement of key African football administrators. Five out of the seven African countries on the Fifa Council have publicly supported him.
Fifa's Forward programme, a funding scheme introduced by Infantino in 2016, has been a significant factor in the support for him. Many African federations have become increasingly reliant on this programme to fund football projects in areas where commercial and government investment in the sport is limited.
Morocco, for instance, has benefited greatly from Fifa's support. The country's capital, Rabat, is home to Fifa's Africa regional office and has hosted several major football events. The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) president, Fouzi Lekjaa, has reaffirmed his support for Infantino, describing his decision to withdraw a controversial proposal as wise.
Egypt, the home of Caf and a strong ally of Infantino, has also benefited from Fifa's Forward programme. The Egyptian Football Association has received increased development funding, and new football competitions have created additional commercial and sporting opportunities. However, there are growing expectations for Fifa's engagement with Africa to extend beyond financial assistance, focusing more on good governance, transparency, and sustainable football development.
Other African nations, such as Nigeria and South Africa, have also shown support for Infantino. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has largely aligned itself with Infantino's leadership, despite global backlash. The ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa also praised Infantino's support for African football.
Despite the support, Infantino's leadership is not without its challenges. The African football federations are urging for a balance between financial assistance and good governance, transparency, and sustainable development.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Norway FA president Klaveness calls on FIFA boss Infantino to resign channelnewsasia.com
