The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has thrown its full weight behind Gianni Infantino, unanimously endorsing the incumbent to remain in charge of FIFA for the 2027-2031 cycle.
The decision was reached during meetings in Vancouver, where all 54 CAF Member Associations agreed on a common position. The endorsement hands Infantino a powerful early boost, delivering the backing of FIFA’s largest voting bloc well before the formal election process gathers pace.
According to an official statement released after the gathering, Africa’s football leadership said: “The CAF Member Associations unanimously agreed to support Gianni Infantino to be re-elected as President of FIFA for the period 2027-2031.”
The declaration signals strong continental unity and suggests that Infantino’s re-election campaign is already gaining significant global traction. Since taking office in 2016, the Swiss-Italian administrator has overseen sweeping changes across world football, including tournament expansion and increased financial support for member associations.
CAF’s early commitment is widely seen as a decisive show of loyalty and influence, given Africa’s voting strength within FIFA’s congress. Securing these votes so early in the cycle provides a firm foundation as other confederations weigh their positions.
The next FIFA presidential election is expected to be held in Morocco. Should Infantino secure another mandate, he could remain in office until 2031 after FIFA ruled that his initial period in charge does not count towards the organisation’s 12-year term limit.
NaijaNews / Tunmise Adesanmi
