An investigative journalist has questioned the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) official claim of unanimous support for Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). The official statement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) claimed unanimous support for Gianni Infantino. However, Romain Molina, the investigative journalist, revealed that the support for Infantino did not have the consensus of the executive committee members during their meeting on August 6. According to Molina, only four officials explicitly declared their support for Infantino at the gathering. He stated that the events transpiring in the meeting contradict CAF's subsequent announcement of unanimous backing for the FIFA President. This discrepancy has drawn attention to the internal dynamics of African football's governing body.
Limited Explicit Endorsements
The four officials who explicitly declared their support for Gianni Infantino were CAF President Patrice Motsepe, President of the Moroccan Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Mauritanian Football Federation Ahmed Yahya, and President of the Djiboutian Football Federation Souleiman Waberi. Investigator Romain Molina stated that the remaining members of the executive committee did not declare their support during discussions, opting instead to abstain from taking a stance. Molina further noted that a number of officials were reportedly surprised by the disparity between CAF's official statement and the actual discussions held behind the scenes. This gap between the public declaration and the private deliberations has raised questions about the transparency of CAF's communications. According to Molina, the silence of the majority of committee members does not necessarily indicate explicit opposition, as many prefer to await future developments before committing to a public position.
Reasons for Support and Silence
Idriss Diallo, President of the Ivorian Football Federation, is among other officials who support Gianni Infantino's continuation, despite not being one of the four who explicitly declared support during the meeting. Investigator Romain Molina stated that Infantino retains supporters in Africa due to his program, which offers increased funding to national federations. This financial incentive is a significant factor for many federations across the continent. Molina also attributed some continued support to fears among officials regarding FIFA's Ethics Committee. Many officials reportedly worry that the committee might open files related to their management, influencing their public stance on Infantino. This apprehension creates a climate where explicit opposition to the FIFA President can be perceived as risky. The balance between potential benefits from Infantino's programs and the fear of scrutiny from FIFA's internal mechanisms shapes the political landscape within CAF.
Future Political Landscape
Investigator Romain Molina concluded that the political landscape could shift significantly within African football. Molina stated that the emergence of a credible challenger to Gianni Infantino might prompt officials to reconsider their current positions regarding the FIFA President. This potential development suggests that the current quiet support or non-committal stance of many Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee members is not necessarily fixed. Their future alignment could depend on the viability of alternative candidates and the perceived strength of their campaigns. Molina's assessment implies that the current dynamics are fluid and contingent upon potential changes in FIFA's leadership race. The actions of these officials, currently observing from the sidelines, could play a decisive role if a serious contender for the FIFA presidency emerges.