The Confederation of African Football has thrown its full weight behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of the next FIFA presidential election scheduled to take place on March 18, 2027, during the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco.
The CAF support comes as incumbent president Gianni Infantino is facing backlash following a controversial proposal regarding World Cup commercial stakes.
In a statement issued after a meeting of its Executive Committee in Rabat, CAF endorsed the joint update issued by Infantino and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström, which acknowledged mistakes in the handling of the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project and apologized for excluding FIFA Council members and national associations from the process.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the continental body welcomed FIFA’s admission that mistakes had been made and backed its commitment to review the process.
“For us in Africa, adherence to governance, due process and transparency is crucial and non-negotiable,” Mr. Motsepe said, voicing Africa commitment to continue working together with FIFA, its Member Associations, other Football Confederations and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance, due process and transparency.
“CAF will also continue to focus on developing our boys and girls football players, coaches and trainers, the National Teams of our 54 Member Associations and the amateur and professional leagues on the African Continent”, added Motsepe.
“Good progress is being made in discussions with our current and new sponsors, partners and investors to ensure that CAF continues to be financially self-supporting and independent and that stadiums and other Football infrastructure are constructed and upgraded”, he said, noting that progress is also being made in the preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Kenya Tanzania Uganda (PAMOJA) and other CAF Competitions.
