While global critics and some regional governing bodies continue to target FIFA President Gianni Infantino, his leadership remains firmly backed by a significant portion of the African continent.
For many African football associations, the choice is simple: Infantino’s FIFA Forward program provides essential capital for infrastructure and development that local governments and commercial markets simply cannot match.
The support is not merely rhetorical; five of the seven African countries on the FIFA Council—Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, and Comoros—have already publicly affirmed their loyalty.
Morocco, a rising power in the sport and host of the 2030 World Cup, has been a particularly vocal ally, with federation president Fouzi Lekjaa praising Infantino’s recent decision to withdraw a controversial private investment proposal as a 'wise' move that prioritized organizational unity.
In Nigeria, where the federation faces chronic funding shortages, officials view Infantino’s financial initiatives as a lifeline, noting that the FIFA Forward program provides millions in necessary investment for training facilities and national team infrastructure.
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie recently warned against joining what he termed a 'public lynching' of the FIFA president, reminding critics that Infantino has been a consistent partner for African football.
While some voices, such as former Sierra Leone FA president Isha Johansen, have raised concerns about over-commercialization, the prevailing sentiment among many African administrators is one of pragmatic gratitude.
As the Gambia Football Federation president Lamin Kaba Bajo put it, many are already looking toward the 2027 election, signaling that Infantino’s influence on the continent remains secure as long as he continues to deliver the resources that keep their football programs afloat.
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