African football leaders rally behind Infantino for FIFA reelection

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received unwavering support from Africa's 54 national football associations, pledging their backing for his reelection in March. This significant endorsement occurred during a strategy symposium for African football in Cape Verde, which allowed the president to address over a quarter of the 211 voting members ahead of the FIFA elections.

Infantino, however, had to abandon a controversial proposal to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments earlier this year due to backlash from mostly European and North American nations, many of which have since withdrawn their support for him.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe assured the delegates that the 56-year-old Infantino would enjoy the "unconditional support" of the entire continent, attributing this backing to Infantino's history of supporting African football. In contrast, former Swiss defender Ramon Vega announced his intention to challenge Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential election, while UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin announced his candidacy for another term as head of European soccer's governing body, effectively removing one of the highest-profile figures from the potential candidate pool.

Infantino emphasized the financial contributions FIFA has made to African football since his election in 2016, revealing that the organization has invested one billion dollars in 10 years through its FIFA Forward programme, which includes 124 different projects and numerous other actions. The president assured the African confederation presidents that FIFA remains committed to investing in the continent, aiming to enhance and expand football opportunities in Africa.

Infantino reiterated his dedication to fostering open dialogue on matters of disagreement, emphasizing that FIFA is always open to constructive discussions and improvement.