Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has thrown his support behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino, describing him as a committed leader whose passion for football and support for Africa have significantly benefited the continent.
Speaking to journalists in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Motsepe praised Infantino’s leadership despite increasing criticism directed at the FIFA boss over several recent decisions.
Infantino has come under scrutiny following FIFA’s handling of United States forward Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the recently concluded FIFA World Cup.
Critics have also questioned the governing body’s introduction of hydration breaks during matches and the proposal to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
However, Motsepe insisted that Infantino’s commitment to football, particularly in Africa, remains unquestionable.
“I like his deep love for football, deep commitment for football in the world and support for Africa,” Motsepe said.
According to the CAF president, Infantino has remained a reliable ally of African football and played a significant role in securing greater representation for the continent at the World Cup.
He noted that Africa now enjoys four additional automatic qualification slots, alongside an extra intercontinental playoff place, allowing a record 10 African nations to feature at the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Infantino, who succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016, is expected to seek a fourth term in office when elections are held in 2027.
Africa is regarded as a powerful force in FIFA politics, with CAF’s 54 member associations forming the largest voting bloc among the six continental confederations.
Support for Infantino’s re-election campaign has continued to grow, with South American football body CONMEBOL becoming the first continental federation to endorse him in April before CAF also declared its backing.
Despite that support, opposition is emerging from parts of Europe, where reports suggest some football associations are considering presenting an alternative candidate to challenge Infantino in the next FIFA presidential election.
Adding to the criticism, Spanish La Liga president Javier Tebas recently declared that Infantino’s leadership should come to an end, accusing FIFA of damaging the global football industry.
In remarks published by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas argued that the current system prioritises a short tournament at the expense of the wider football ecosystem.
“They are destroying the football industry—which generates tens of thousands of jobs—for an event that lasts 40 days and involves only a minority of players,” Tebas said.
Infantino’s leadership has remained a subject of debate within world football, even as he continues to receive strong backing from Africa and other football regions.