Why Africa might back controversial Fifa planImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe (right) has developed a close working relationship with Fifa counterpart Gianni InfantinoPublished31 July 2026, 18:31 BSTUpdated 26 minutes agoIn the row which has engulfed global football and the man who runs it, Gianni Infantino, could Africa end up as a lone voice of support for the Fifa president?And why might that be?While European governing body Uefa has voted to boycott Fifa competitions, including World Cups, if plans go ahead to sell stakes in those competitions to private investors, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has remained largely silent so far.
Much of that has to do with the close relationship between Caf, Fifa and Infantino.
Caf president Patrice Motsepe lauded Infantino for his “excellent work” after this year’s World Cup and hailed the Swiss as “a good friend”.
“He is loyal to Africa,” Motsepe reported on 22 July. “When people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back.”
Fifa’s aim is to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events and allow external investors to buy stakes in it.
Fifa estimates the subsidiary, Fifa Forward Enterprise, could raise $4.2bn (£3.1bn) later this year, with the net benefits being reinvested into the global game.
Caf says its executive committee will meet to “assess and evaluate” the proposal next week, encouraging its member associations to do the same.
African countries have already benefited from previous Fifa funding.
The new sums at stake could continue to transform the footballing landscape on the continent.
