Secret ballot could expose African unease over FIFA president Infantino

A split is emerging within African football over the future of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president, with a senior former official claiming that at least half of the continent’s national associations oppose him despite public institutional support from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The dispute comes after Infantino’s unsuccessful initiative to privatise the World Cup. His efforts to restore calm around the proposal have failed to produce the desired results, including within continental confederations that have publicly backed his leadership.

CAF is a key player in any election for FIFA’s presidency because it has 54 affiliated national associations, the second-largest voting bloc after UEFA, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has publicly confirmed the confederation’s institutional support for Infantino. He has also stressed that the ballot box is the only legitimate way to bring about changes in football administration.

However, Marca reported that “the position within the African continent is not as clear as it appears”.

Constant Omari, who was president of the Congolese Football Federation from 2003 to 2021 and previously served on the FIFA Council, said his assessment was that at least half of Africa’s football associations were opposed to Infantino.

Omari acknowledged that an official position existed, but said resistance was continuing behind the scenes. He added that if a secret vote were held today, half of the associations would not follow the declared line.

The strongest criticism is reportedly coming from English-speaking countries. Their concerns include what they view as the expansion of Infantino’s authority and several refereeing decisions, particularly the treatment of referee Omar Artan during the World Cup.

They are also opposed to the proposal involving the sale of part of the World Cup rights to a private company.

Supporters and critics

Morocco is described as Infantino’s most committed African ally, alongside its football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa.

“Infantino enjoys unconditional support from Morocco and its president Fouzi Lekjaa, who is seeking to host the World Cup final in return for this unconditional backing,” Marca reported.

The newspaper said Infantino’s other supporters include Egypt, Mauritania, Sudan, Niger, Djibouti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Congolese federation is led by Veron Mosengo-Omba, who is described as a close friend of Infantino from their time studying in Freiburg. Mosengo-Omba previously served as CAF general secretary during Motsepe’s presidency.

Critics within African football have expressed doubts about the relationship between Mosengo-Omba and Motsepe. They have also pointed to CAF’s unilateral termination of its television-rights contract with Lagardere in 2019, difficulties surrounding preparations for the next Africa Cup of Nations and the announcement that the tournament will be staged every four years.

Omari said the refereeing issue had been “the final straw”. He claimed that people within CAF were increasingly frustrated by what they considered Infantino’s complete dominance over Motsepe and the confederation’s administration.

Infantino is also facing pressure in Europe. Reports emerged after last week’s UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg that UEFA was considering submitting a motion of no confidence unless Infantino resigns or voluntarily leaves office in the coming months.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and the European Club Association, led by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, are also seeking support from the Asian Football Confederation and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.

According to Marca, the two organisations want to build a wider coalition to bring about an institutional revolution inside FIFA.