Africa’s 54 football associations unanimously back Infantino for 2027 Fifa election

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has received the unconditional backing of all 54 African member associations for his re-election bid in March 2027.

The pledge was made at a conference in Cape Verde, where Infantino addressed the presidents of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) during the first strategy symposium of its kind for African football.

Africa accounts for more than a quarter of the 211 voters in the Fifa presidential election, making the continent’s support a significant boost to the Swiss-Italian’s campaign.

Caf president Patrice Motsepe said the decision to support the 56-year-old had been unanimous.

“There is a unanimous decision by the 54 Caf member associations to unconditionally support Gianni as president of Fifa,” Motsepe told delegates.

“This is because of the history and the support that Gianni has given to African football.”

Infantino, who was elected Fifa president in 2016, has faced opposition from several mostly European and North American nations after a controversial proposal to sell a stake in Fifa tournaments was shelved earlier this year.

He did not refer directly to that plan in his address, but said disagreements should be handled through dialogue.

“When you go through a journey, sometimes concerns are raised,” he said.

“When they are raised, we have to address them. As far as we are concerned at Fifa, we address them always with the spirit of dialogue and with open arms, an open heart and an open mind. We can always be better and do better.”

Infantino also highlighted Fifa’s financial support for the continent through the Fifa Forward programme.

“As Fifa president, I am proud to have contributed with you a little bit in this revolution [in African football] in the last 10 years,” he said.

“With the Fifa Forward programme we have invested $1bn in 10 years in Africa, with 124 different projects and many other actions.”

He promised that Fifa would continue to provide resources to help African football develop.

“Our commitment is to make sure that your football is going to continue to improve and grow, give you more opportunities. Ten countries at the [last] World Cup has been a success for the entire continent,” Infantino said.

“We need to continue together on this path, because it is up to you as Caf to tell us what you want. How we can make you stronger and better.

“We will continue to look for the resources and the increases [in funding] that are necessary to boost the African game to the top of world football.”

Former Switzerland defender Ramon Vega said on Wednesday that he intends to contest next year’s Fifa presidential election against Infantino.

However, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin announced on Thursday that he would seek another term as head of European football’s governing body, removing one of the most prominent potential challengers from the field.