{"id":1845,"date":"2026-08-04T14:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T14:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845"},"modified":"2026-08-04T14:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T14:00:09","slug":"top-africa-football-leaders-back-infantino-after-fifa-selloff-scandal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845","title":{"rendered":"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__divider\">\n<div class=\"listen-to-article\"><button class=\"listen-to-article__button\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><title>Listen<\/title>Listen (4 mins)<\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__update-reading-list-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"update-reading-list\">\n<p class=\"update-reading-list__button-text\">Save<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"screen-reader-text\">Click here to share on social media<\/div>\n<p><title>share-nodes<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"rich-share__social-text\">Share<\/p>\n<div class=\"rich-share__links rich-share__links--row\" data-testid=\"share-links\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__social rich-share__social--row\"><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F5dsvwx\"><title>facebook<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Isolated%20Infantino%20finds%20support%20in%20Africa%20ahead%20of%20CAF%20meeting&amp;source=sharethiscom&amp;related=sharethis&amp;via=AJEnglish&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F5dsvwx\"><title>x<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row u-hidden--desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Whatsapp\" href=\"\/\/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F5dsvwx\"><title>whatsapp-stroke<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row copylink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Copy link\" href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/5dsvwx\"><title>copylink<\/title><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><title>google<\/title><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><title>info<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-featured__media\">\n<figure class=\"article-featured-image\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-06-28T190928Z_79077007_UP1EM6S1H7RFA_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ZAF-CAN-1785848631.jpg?resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe in the stands before the match\"><\/div><figcaption>FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe at the World Cup 2026 [Daniel Cole\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-info m--t-20 m--desktop-b-30 m--b-mobile-20\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--no-avatars\">\n<div class=\"byline-content\">\n<div class=\"contributors-list contributors-list--byline\"><span class=\"contributors-list__by-prefix\">By <\/span>Reuters<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<div class=\"date-simple\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 4 Aug 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">4 Aug 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p>Leading African football administrators have sent messages of support to embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he looks to the continent\u2019s 54 members for backing in a bid \u2060to keep his job.<\/p>\n<p>Five of the continent\u2019s influential football leaders have issued statements that offer Infantino support, despite also welcoming the decision to drop his controversial plan to sell a stake in future World Cup revenue.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 4 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"more-on__list\">\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 1 of 4<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/sports\/2026\/8\/4\/ex-arsenal-boss-wenger-was-not-aware-of-infantinos-fifa-plan\">Ex-Arsenal boss Wenger was \u2018not aware\u2019 of Infantino\u2019s FIFA plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 2 of 4<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/sports\/2026\/8\/4\/uefa-confirm-legal-letter-served-to-fifa-after-infantino-world-cup-plan\">UEFA confirms legal letter served to FIFA after Infantino\u2019s World Cup plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 3 of 4<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/sports\/2026\/8\/3\/fifas-infantino-sought-trump-backing-after-failed-world-cup-stakes-sell-off-plan\">Report: FIFA\u2019s Infantino sought Trump backing after failed World Cup plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 4 of 4<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/sports\/2026\/8\/3\/wales-fa-withdraws-support-for-infantino-re-election-after-fifa-stake-plan\">England set to follow Wales in withdrawing support for FIFA\u2019s Infantino<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>Their messages came ahead of a meeting of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday at which they will discuss the abandoned plan to raise $4.2bn from a new commercial rights body.<\/p>\n<p>While administrators from Asia, Europe and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) all said over the weekend that they had lost confidence in Infantino\u2019s leadership, CAF has kept its counsel, offering Infantino hope he can count on the support of its large membership as he looks to hold on to power at next March\u2019s presidential election for FIFA, the Federation Internationale de Football Association.<\/p>\n<p>CAF only \u200creleased a statement last Wednesday saying it would study Infantino\u2019s FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative, but he abandoned the project under intense pressure on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>It remains an item on the agenda for the CAF meeting, although there is no guarantee that African football\u2019s governing body will take any stand on Infantino\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<p>But leading committee members say they are backing Infantino, including CAF Vice President Fouzi Lekjaa from Morocco and fellow FIFA Council members Hany Abo Rida (Egypt), Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger) and Ahmed Yhaya (Mauritania).<\/p>\n<div class=\"container--ads in-article-ads\">\n<div class=\"ads\"><span class=\"ads__title\"> Advertisement <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>There has also been a statement of support from Veron Mosengo-Omba, recently elected president of the football federation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and former CAF general secretary, who studied at university in Switzerland with Infantino.<\/p>\n<p>All released similarly worded messages welcoming Infantino\u2019s decision \u2060to abandon the project before praising him and expressing support.<\/p>\n<p>African countries helped Infantino to his election success in 2016 on \u2060the back of his promises to more than double development money dispensed to FIFA\u2019s member associations.<\/p>\n<p>It is this largesse that has helped keep him popular among African members, many of whom struggle financially and now largely depend on FIFA money to compete.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur problem is how to obtain money. Right now, we have no sponsors. So how do we compete? The richest \u2060nations can train players, have infrastructure and equipment, and it\u2019s no coincidence that they then achieve results. Most European countries don\u2019t have these problems,\u201d said Said Ali Athouman, the president of the Comoros Football Federation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur government is not able \u2060to make sure that they have medical supplies in hospitals and at the same time to \u2060look at football. Malawi needs money. Malawi needs stadiums,\u201d added Fleetwood Haiya, president of the Football Association of Malawi.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA baseline funding guarantees each of its 211 member associations $8m over a four-year cycle, plus CAF also now offers an annual grant to its members.<\/p>\n<p>Gifting grants to member associations was first floated by Infantino\u2019s predecessor, Sepp Blatter, when he stood for election against Lennart \u200cJohansson in 1998, and he won with backing from most African countries, who had never before received financial help from world football\u2019s governing body, even though CAF formally endorsed the Swede, who was then UEFA president.<\/p>\n<p>Infantino continued Blatter\u2019s idea, although he renamed it from the Goal Project to FIFA Forward, and exponentially \u200cincreased \u200cthe monies.<\/p>\n<p>Motsepe was effusive in his praise for Infantino days before the World Cup selloff scandal broke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI personally support Gianni Infantino,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s not just a good friend. He\u2019s a loyal friend. He\u2019s loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ListenListen (4 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe at the World Cup 2026 [Daniel Cole\/Reuters] By Reuters Published On 4 Aug 20264 Aug 2026 Leading African football administrators have sent messages of support to embattled [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal - Asia Newscast<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal - Asia Newscast\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ListenListen (4 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe at the World Cup 2026 [Daniel Cole\/Reuters] By Reuters Published On 4 Aug 20264 Aug 2026 Leading African football administrators have sent messages of support to embattled [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Asia Newscast\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-04T14:00:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T14:00:09+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845\"},\"wordCount\":754,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/#organization\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845\",\"name\":\"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal - Asia Newscast\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T14:00:09+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?p=1845#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Asia Newscast\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Asia Newscast\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/anc-logo-v3.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/anc-logo-v3.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":853,\"caption\":\"Asia Newscast\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.asianewscast.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal - Asia Newscast","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal - Asia Newscast","og_description":"ListenListen (4 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe at the World Cup 2026 [Daniel Cole\/Reuters] By Reuters Published On 4 Aug 20264 Aug 2026 Leading African football administrators have sent messages of support to embattled [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845","og_site_name":"Asia Newscast","article_published_time":"2026-08-04T14:00:09+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal","datePublished":"2026-08-04T14:00:09+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845"},"wordCount":754,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845","url":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845","name":"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal - Asia Newscast","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-08-04T14:00:09+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1845#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Top Africa football leaders back Infantino after FIFA selloff scandal"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/","name":"Asia Newscast","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/#organization","name":"Asia Newscast","url":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/anc-logo-v3.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/anc-logo-v3.jpg","width":1280,"height":853,"caption":"Asia Newscast"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1845"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1845\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1846,"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1845\/revisions\/1846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}