Does Africa still back Infantino as Fifa president?
News
For now, beleaguered Fifa president Gianni Infantino still has some allies in world football, particularly in parts of the world where less well-off football associations have benefited from his presidency.
Infantino’s position has been under scrutiny since his controversial plan to sell stakes in Fifa’s global competitions to private investors was scrapped having been opposed by some regional governing bodies.
Late on Thursday, the executive committee of the African confederation (Caf) unanimously confirmed its support for Infantino, after leading African football administrators sent messages backing him.
Details
Five of the seven African countries on the Fifa Council – Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania and Comoros – have already supported him publicly.
Support from the continent largely stems from Fifa’s Forward programme, a funding scheme Infantino introduced in 2016 that many African federations have become increasingly reliant on to fund football projects in areas where commercial and government investment in the sport is limited.
Our reporters and correspondents have explained below where some of Africa’s key footballing nations stand.
Analysis
Faisal Islam: Four reasons why Fifa’s World Cup plan never stacked up
Morocco’s rise as one of Africa’s football success stories has largely been driven by government funding, but the country has also become a key partner for Fifa.
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