CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, flanked by the heads of all 54 African member associations, has reiterated the Confederation of African Football’s “unanimous and unconditional” support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he seeks another term in office from 2027. Motsepe specifically thanked Infantino “for all he does for African football.”
The endorsement was formalised during a meeting of CAF’s 54 Member Associations held on 29 April 2026 in Vancouver, Canada, on the eve of the 76th FIFA Congress. In an official statement, CAF confirmed that the associations “unanimously agreed to support Gianni Infantino to be re-elected as President of FIFA for the period 2027–2031.” This collective decision positioned Africa’s substantial voting bloc firmly behind the incumbent well ahead of the elective congress.
Africa accounts for 54 of FIFA’s 211 member associations—nearly a quarter of the total electorate and second only to UEFA’s 55—making the continent a decisive force in any presidential contest. CAF’s unified stance therefore carries significant political weight.
Infantino, who first assumed the FIFA presidency in 2016 following Sepp Blatter’s departure and was subsequently re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, has built strong working relationships with African football leadership over the past decade, most notably with Motsepe, who has led CAF since 2021.
African leaders have pointed to several concrete benefits delivered under Infantino’s tenure. These include a major expansion of Africa’s representation at the FIFA World Cup, which allowed a record number of African teams to participate in the enlarged 48-team 2026 tournament; substantially increased development funding through the FIFA Forward programme, which channels multi-million-dollar support to each member association over four-year cycles; greater investment in infrastructure, youth development and competitions across the continent; and the successful allocation of major international events, including Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. Motsepe has repeatedly described Infantino as a loyal friend to Africa who has remained consistently committed to the growth of the game on the continent.
The support has been reaffirmed on multiple occasions. In August 2026, at a time when Infantino faced intense international criticism following the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal—a plan involving the potential sale of minority stakes linked to future World Cup commercial rights—the CAF Executive Committee “unanimously reconfirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African football over the years.”
Motsepe welcomed FIFA’s subsequent joint update that acknowledged shortcomings in process and consultation, while underlining that adherence to governance, due process and transparency remains crucial and non-negotiable for African football. CAF also expressed appreciation for the organisation of the 2026 World Cup.
Motsepe again publicly renewed CAF’s full support for Infantino in the forthcoming election. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place at the 77th FIFA Congress in March 2027 in Morocco. FIFA has confirmed that Infantino will stand for re-election, even as rival candidacies have begun to emerge and some associations outside Africa have withdrawn earlier endorsements.
This consistent African backing stands in notable contrast to sharper criticism expressed by several other confederations, particularly in Europe, over issues of governance, commercial strategy and aspects of the 2026 World Cup.
African officials have framed their position in terms of demonstrated loyalty, measurable developmental gains and a preference for resolving any leadership questions through the established democratic process involving all 211 FIFA member associations rather than through external pressure or boycott threats.
With the election still several months away, CAF’s bloc-level solidarity—first secured with the presence of all 54 association heads and later reinforced by the Executive Committee and by Motsepe himself—remains one of the most important political assets available to Infantino as he campaigns for the 2027–2031 term. The ongoing partnership between FIFA and CAF under the current leaderships continues to be presented by African football authorities as mutually beneficial and essential for the continued advancement of the sport across the continent.