African associations rally behind Infantino in Cape Verde
African football associations have thrown their unanimous support behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid a deepening global power struggle over the leadership of world football’s governing body. Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), announced during a conference in Sal, Cape Verde, that all 54 member associations back the incumbent official without reservation.
The formal endorsement arrived during a continental gathering where delegates gathered on stage around Infantino to offer sustained applause. Following the display, the FIFA president shared a message on social media expressing gratitude for what he described as a moment of unity. The 56-year-old administrator intends to seek another term during the upcoming election scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.
Commercial setbacks fail to fracture continental alliance
The solid backing from African member associations arrives despite recent controversies surrounding Infantino’s administration. Earlier in the summer, a high-profile initiative to market World Cup rights through external private investors ultimately collapsed. While that commercial setback weakened his standing in other regions, it failed to erode his support base across the African continent.
Traditional power centers mount resistance in Berlin
In sharp contrast to the unified stance observed in Sal, traditional power centers have moved to challenge the current leadership. Associations representing Europe, alongside North and Middle America and the Caribbean, have withdrawn their trust from the FIFA president. Representatives from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) reinforced their criticism and called for a leadership change following a dedicated summit in Berlin.
The countdown to the November electoral cutoff
While European officials outlined the leadership profile they seek in a potential successor during their discussions in Berlin, they stopped short of naming a specific candidate to challenge Infantino. Electoral opposition groups face a strict deadline of November 18 to formally register a challenger. Prior to that cutoff date, all 55 UEFA member associations are scheduled to convene for another high-level strategy meeting to finalize their opposition platform.
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