The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and all 54 of its member associations have reaffirmed their support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of the next presidential election in 2027.
CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe announced the position during the CAF Strategy Conference on Sal Island in Cabo Verde, confirming that Africa’s football associations would back Infantino in the contest for another term.
"All 54 CAF Member Associations will support Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential election," Motsepe said.
The declaration reinforces the backing Infantino has received from African football’s governing body as he prepares for the election, which is scheduled for March 2027.
Motsepe’s latest comments also underline the close relationship between CAF and FIFA during Infantino’s leadership. The African governing body has previously expressed support for the FIFA president.
The announcement was made at a gathering attended by Motsepe and representatives of African football associations, presenting a united position from the continent ahead of the vote.
Africa’s support is significant because its 54 member associations account for 54 of the 211 voting associations within FIFA. Their collective backing provides Infantino with a substantial base as he seeks another term in office.
During the conference, Infantino highlighted FIFA’s investment in football development across Africa. He said the FIFA Forward programme had channelled $1bn into 124 development projects on the continent over the past 10 years and indicated that further resources would be made available to support African football.
The programme is designed to support football development through funding for projects and infrastructure, although the details of any additional investment were not specified in the article.
The endorsement comes ahead of the elective 77th FIFA Congress, scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, on 18 March 2027.
Motsepe’s statement provides a clear indication of CAF’s position before that meeting, with all of its member associations expected to support Infantino’s bid.
The African football body’s declaration also comes amid reports of opposition to Infantino from some European and North American football associations following the collapse of a proposal known as FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The proposal, which was subsequently abandoned, involved plans to sell commercial stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors. The reported withdrawal of support from some federations has added to the political backdrop surrounding the upcoming election.
However, CAF has publicly maintained its backing for Infantino, with Motsepe confirming the position on behalf of the continent’s 54 member associations.
The FIFA president’s next term will be decided at the 2027 congress in Morocco, where member associations will participate in the presidential election.
For now, CAF’s declaration establishes a united African position behind Infantino as the election approaches, while the broader contest will depend on the decisions of FIFA’s voting members worldwide.
