Gianni Infantino is facing one of the biggest challenges to his FIFA presidency, but Africa has made it clear that it is standing firmly behind him.
The Confederation of African Football has unanimously reaffirmed its support for the FIFA president as criticism of his leadership grows across other parts of world football. The backing comes after FIFA admitted mistakes in its handling of the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which triggered concerns about governance, transparency and the concentration of presidential power.
CAF’s intervention matters far beyond a statement of solidarity because Africa controls 54 of FIFA’s 211 votes, making it one of the most powerful blocs in any battle over Infantino’s future.
CAF Is Standing Firmly Behind Infantino
African football leaders have accepted FIFA’s admission of mistakes without withdrawing their confidence in its president.
Following an Executive Committee meeting in Rabat, CAF welcomed a joint update from Infantino and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström acknowledging problems with the FIFA Forward Enterprise process.
FIFA apologized for failing to properly involve members of the FIFA Council and national associations before pursuing the proposal. CAF president Patrice Motsepe said governance, transparency and due process remained “crucial and non-negotiable” for African football.
Despite those concerns, CAF’s Executive Committee unanimously reconfirmed its support for Infantino and praised what it described as his long-standing commitment to football across the continent.
The Abandoned FIFA Deal Is at the Heart of the Crisis
Infantino’s growing problems stem from a proposal that would have opened future World Cup revenues to private investment.
FIFA Forward Enterprise was envisioned as a commercial vehicle capable of selling stakes linked to future World Cup revenues to private investors.
The plan ultimately collapsed amid fierce opposition and questions about how such a major commercial decision had advanced without broader consultation inside FIFA.
FIFA has acknowledged that the process was mishandled, although the organization maintains that it operated within its regulatory framework.
For critics, the controversy goes deeper than the abandoned proposal itself. They argue it exposed weaknesses in FIFA’s decision-making structure and raised questions about how much authority is concentrated around its president.
Africa’s Support Gives Infantino a Powerful Political Shield
CAF’s 54 national associations could prove crucial if the battle over Infantino’s leadership eventually reaches FIFA’s voting members.
Europe’s UEFA has 55 member associations, meaning Africa possesses almost the same voting strength within FIFA. Together, CAF members account for more than a quarter of the organization’s 211 national associations.
That makes Motsepe’s support particularly important.
CAF’s associations had already unanimously backed Infantino for another term in April. Motsepe has since made his personal loyalty even clearer, describing Infantino as both a friend and someone who has remained loyal to Africa.
Several influential African football officials have separately backed the FIFA president, including Morocco federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, Egypt’s Hany Abo Rida, Niger’s Hamidou Djibrilla and Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya.
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Former CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, recently elected president of DR Congo’s football federation, has also publicly supported Infantino.
Europe Is Sending a Very Different Message
The unity displayed by African officials stands in sharp contrast to the growing rebellion among European football leaders.
UEFA has argued that FIFA’s apology does not adequately address the governance problems exposed by the failed proposal and has maintained that its members have lost confidence in Infantino’s presidency.
The dispute has become serious enough for European officials to raise the possibility of boycotting FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
Several individual federations have gone further. England’s Football Association has withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election, joining Wales, Serbia, Sweden and Finland in publicly distancing themselves from his leadership.
CONCACAF has also demanded a broader reckoning over FIFA’s governance, while the Asian Football Confederation criticized the privatization proposal before separately maintaining its longer-term support for Infantino.
Players Are Now Joining the Revolt
Opposition is no longer limited to football executives and national associations.
Global players’ union FIFPRO has accused Infantino of a “profound abuse of presidential power” and argued that confidence in FIFA’s governance has been seriously damaged. The organization is calling for substantial institutional reforms rather than treating the abandoned commercial proposal as an isolated mistake.
Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein has remained another prominent critic, while Amnesty International has used the dispute to renew demands for stronger governance standards within world football.
The growing range of critics makes the controversy harder for FIFA to dismiss as simply a disagreement between rival confederations.
Infantino Still Has Powerful Allies Outside Africa
Despite the rebellion, there is no indication that Infantino has lost enough global support to leave his position immediately vulnerable.
South American governing body CONMEBOL has opposed attempts to remove Infantino outside FIFA’s formal electoral process. Argentina’s Football Association and the Mexican Football Federation have also backed his leadership, even as criticism has emerged within their respective regions.
That leaves world football increasingly divided into competing camps rather than united against the FIFA president.
Africa’s position could ultimately become decisive. With 54 votes and a leadership publicly committed to Infantino, CAF gives him a formidable base of support at a moment when some of football’s most influential organizations are demanding change.
The controversy is therefore becoming about more than the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise project. It is turning into a test of where power lies inside FIFA and how much opposition Infantino can withstand when one of the organization’s largest voting blocs remains firmly on his side.
Do you think CAF is right to continue backing Gianni Infantino after FIFA admitted mistakes in the failed proposal, or should African football leaders demand greater accountability before offering their support?
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