\n<\/p>\n
The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa<\/b>, Gayton McKenzie, posted on X saying that Infantino had been “very good to African football”.<\/p>\n
“Africa should be cautious in joining the public lynching of Infantino. He has been very good to African football. <\/p>\n
“We can debate his ideas but let’s not forget who has been a friend to us. Many of those calling for his head want the old status quo back too.”<\/p>\n
Speaking to the BBC after Infantino’s proposal emerged, football officials from Malawi<\/b> and Uganda<\/b> said Fifa investment had transformed the game both on and off the pitch, arguing such funding is vital given the financial realities facing many African nations.<\/p>\n
“Malawi needs money. Malawi needs stadiums, our government cannot manage to give us even $1m every year for football,” Malawi FA president Fleetwood Haiya told BBC’s Newsday programme.<\/p>\n
“Our government is not able to make sure that they have medical supplies in hospitals [and] at the same time to look at football,” he said.<\/p>\n
President of the Gambia Football Federation<\/b>, Lamin Kaba Bajo, told BBC Sport: “As far as I’m concerned, most of my colleagues are concerned, we’ll encourage him [Infantino] to stay, and we’ll do everything within our means to ensure that he is re-elected come next year, 2027.<\/p>\n
“That’s my personal opinion as president of the federation, and a good number of African memberships also stand on that line. He is here to stay.”<\/p>\n
But support for the project on the continent was not universal. Former Sierra Leone<\/b> FA president and ex-Fifa Council member Isha Johansen was among African voices opposing it, warning it risked over-commercialising football asking, “What price does one have to pay in order to get to this elevated development for football in Africa?”<\/p>\n
Johansen urged African football chiefs to think carefully about the game’s future.<\/p>\n
Last month, Caf president Patrice Motsepe lauded Infantino for his “excellent work” after this year’s World Cup and hailed him as “a good friend”.<\/p>\n