Kurt Okraku: Africa to maintain support for Gianni Infantino’s FIFA Presidency

Ghana Football Association (GFA) President and CAF Second Vice President Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku has reaffirmed Africa’s strong support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of the next FIFA presidential election.

Speaking in his dual capacity as a CAF executive and GFA president, Okraku said the Confederation of African Football (CAF) remains firmly behind Infantino and is committed to supporting his continued leadership of FIFA.

“I will speak wearing two hats – as a vice president of CAF and president of the Ghana Football Association,” Okraku told renowned Ghanaian journalist Michael Oti Adjei in an exclusive interview.

“CAF supports the leadership of Gianni Infantino. We have made this clear, and our president, Dr Patrice Motsepe, has stated this publicly.”

According to Okraku, CAF has consistently demonstrated its support for Infantino through public statements and press conferences, and its position remains unchanged.

“We are determined to ensure that Gianni wins the next election and continues as FIFA president. There is a good reason for this,” he stated.

Okraku praised Infantino for what he described as his commitment to the development of African football, arguing that the FIFA president has consistently demonstrated an interest in Africa’s welfare and the growth of the sport across the continent.

“He has shown over time that he loves Africa and is interested in the development of the game on the continent. He is concerned about our welfare and has consistently supported us. He is like a twin brother to Africa,” Okraku said.

His comments come amid tensions within world football following a controversial proposal by Infantino, which he later withdrew and apologised for.

Okraku said Infantino’s withdrawal and apology should bring the matter to a close, while criticising what he described as political manoeuvring by some European football stakeholders.

“Gianni has withdrawn the proposal and apologised to the football world, the 211 member associations and, in particular, to us at CAF. For us, that brings the matter to an end,” he said.

“Unfortunately, our brothers in Europe are engaging in a degree of political manoeuvring, but Africa, under our current president, will always speak for itself.”

Okraku stressed that Africa’s position extends beyond support for an individual, insisting that the continent is seeking greater investment in football development.

“Our position is very clear. We support Gianni, continued and increased investment in world football, and any policy that is thoroughly discussed with Africa and serves the continent’s interests,” he added.

The GFA president highlighted the significant developmental challenges facing African football, particularly in infrastructure, coaching, refereeing and youth development.

He noted that European countries have the resources to develop players from a very young age, while many African countries struggle to provide similar opportunities because of inadequate funding.

“Europeans invest in players from the age of three or four, once they can kick a ball at six. In Africa, development often begins at 10 or 12, and sometimes as late as 15, largely because of limited or inadequate resources,” he explained.

Okraku believes increased investment could transform African football by improving infrastructure, strengthening coaching systems, developing referees and creating better pathways for young players.

He also acknowledged that Infantino, like every other football administrator, is capable of making mistakes.

“Gianni is not a saint, and he is not perfect because he is human,” Okraku said. “My brother who leads UEFA is also human and is not perfect. He, too, makes mistakes.”

He argued that leaders should be willing to resolve disagreements through dialogue once mistakes have been acknowledged.

“For us in Africa, this is in our interest,” Okraku said, stressing the need for African football leaders to engage with their counterparts in other confederations and help them understand the continent’s unique needs.

“Now that he has withdrawn the proposal, our position is that the proposal has been withdrawn, but increased investment in the game remains the only way forward.”

Watch the full interview below:

https://youtu.be/RtvCVlDqTQg?si=vXbmZrqvkyfvFgli