Cameroon’s Eto’o says African federations should support Infantino

Cameroon's national football chief, Samuel Eto'o, has urged African football associations to back FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Speaking in an interview with French publication L'Equipe, Eto'o praised Infantino for boosting the development of African federations, helping more countries qualify for the World Cup, and providing more nations with the chance to compete in the prestigious tournament. He acknowledged that Infantino's efforts have accelerated the growth of African football.

Eto'o's remarks stand in stark contrast to UEFA's more contentious relationship with Infantino. The European football governing body has increasingly taken a critical stance toward the FIFA president, highlighting the divergent priorities between African and European football leaders.

Infantino has indicated that he intends to seek re-election at the FIFA Congress scheduled for March 18, 2027. Under his leadership, Africa has been granted nine direct spots in the expanded 48-team World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, up from five in 2022. UEFA, however, vehemently opposed a proposal to transfer commercial rights connected to the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup to a new FIFA subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

Despite FIFA's withdrawal of the plan, UEFA has continued to challenge its implementation and is seeking permission from a U.S. court to gather evidence for a potential criminal complaint against Infantino and other FIFA officials.

Eto'o noted that African federations cannot be expected to view FIFA policy in the same light as wealthier football nations, as many African associations heavily rely on government funding. He added that the limited resources available to African countries hinder their ability to compete with the big nations and result in potential talent being lost to European clubs.

Eto'o underscored that a larger annual budget, such as $20 million or $40 million, could have produced world-class players like Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni for Cameroon. He emphasized that while UEFA is a significant confederation for FIFA, it should not be viewed as the sole or most critical confederation in the global football landscape.