Fouzi Lekjaa applauds Gianni Infantino’s “Total Metamorphosis” of FIFA

President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, has paid glowing tribute to Gianni Infantino as the FIFA President marks ten years at the helm of world football’s governing body.

Lekjaa described Infantino’s tenure as a transformational era for global football governance, underlining sweeping reforms and expanded development support that have had a significant impact across continents – particularly in Africa.

“To speak about Gianni Infantino’s record at FIFA, it is clear that what he has managed to put in place is enormous. It is a total metamorphosis of FIFA.

“For example, the complete revision of FIFA’s governance, especially regarding the clean-up of its finances, which has multiplied revenues and resources and made it possible to triple development efforts across all continents.”

Infantino, elected FIFA President in February 2016, introduced wide-ranging structural and financial reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and boosting investment in member associations.

According to Lekjaa, those reforms have translated into tangible benefits for federations worldwide.

The Moroccan FA boss further highlighted how FIFA’s globalisation drive under Infantino has created historic opportunities for Africa – most notably Morocco’s role in co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

“Mr. Gianni Infantino achieved this qualitative leap at FIFA within a logic of the globalization of football, which has enabled our African continent – and my Royal Moroccan Football Federation – to already have the honour of participating alongside Spain and Portugal, Inshallah, in co-hosting the 2030 World Cup for the second time on African soil.”

Morocco will jointly host the 2030 tournament with Spain and Portugal, marking a landmark moment for African football and reinforcing the Kingdom’s growing influence within the global game.

Lekjaa also pointed to another milestone for Moroccan football – the establishment of FIFA’s Africa office in Rabat – describing it as a strategic development hub for the continent.

“He has also enabled my federation to be honoured by hosting FIFA’s Africa office here in Rabat, which is tremendous and offers opportunities for development, training, and supervision.

“And of course, like all African and global federations, we have all benefited from the resources allocated to development, which has accelerated football development programs, whether in terms of infrastructure or technical training. Overall, we are witnessing a quiet revolution in world football, a metamorphosis of FIFA.”

Under Infantino’s decade-long leadership, expanded funding through development programmes has significantly increased investment in infrastructure, youth systems and technical capacity-building – areas African federations say have been critical in accelerating progress.

As FIFA commemorates ten years of Infantino’s presidency on 26 February 2026, endorsements such as Lekjaa’s underscore the perception among several African football leaders that the organisation has entered what he termed a “quiet revolution” – reshaping governance, expanding opportunity and deepening global inclusion.