The Confederation of African Football (CAF) did not unanimously support FIFA president Gianni Infantino, despite issuing a statement claiming it had done so, according to details of a meeting held by its executive committee.
The committee met on Thursday, 6 August, but only four officials openly expressed support for Infantino during the meeting: CAF president Patrice Motsepe, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Ahmed Yahya, president of the Mauritanian Football Federation, and Souleiman Waberi, president of the Djiboutian Football Federation.
Those names were not considered surprising in the context of Infantino’s relationships and support within African football.
Other federation presidents may also favour Infantino remaining on the executive committee, including Idriss Diallo, president of the Ivorian Football Federation. However, the other members present did not respond publicly and chose not to comment on the issue.
Several officials privately expressed astonishment at what they viewed as the gap between CAF’s official communication and the reality of the discussions behind closed doors. The organisation’s statement described support for Infantino as “a l’unanimite” – unanimously – but the meeting itself did not produce a collective declaration of that kind.
The silence of most members of the executive committee should not, however, be read as outright opposition to the FIFA president. Rather, many appear to be keeping their positions open while they wait to see how the situation develops and which wider trends emerge.
Infantino continues to retain significant support across Africa. One reason is his programme, which is expected to provide national federations – and their leaders – with even more money. Another is that some officials are concerned that FIFA’s Ethics Committee could open investigations into their management.
Those factors mean that financial considerations and fear may work in Infantino’s favour. But there is also another calculation taking place among the continent’s football leaders.
If a credible rival eventually enters the contest, many officials would prefer not to commit themselves too early. By remaining silent, they can preserve their options while assessing the strength of any potential challenger and the direction in which support is moving.
The current position therefore appears less straightforward than CAF’s public announcement suggested. Four officials openly backed Infantino at the meeting, while others may support him but did not speak. The majority chose not to reveal their stance.
In African football, the eventual balance of power could depend on whether a serious alternative to Infantino emerges. Until then, many federation leaders appear content to wait, watch and avoid taking a definitive position.
The account also reflects a wider uncertainty within the executive committee: silence does not necessarily mean resistance, but neither does it amount to unanimous support. The final outcome is likely to be shaped by the strength of the candidates involved and by the alliances that develop over time.
