By Paul Nicholson
March 12 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino opened the 43rd CAF Congress in Rabat, Morocco – pretty much his home constituency in the balance of FIFA’s politics these days – with an emphasis on African unity and yet another pledge to drive Africa to the top of the world game on the field of play.
Referencing his own exhaustive travel in the region over the past three weeks, he said that “the most important value is team spirit. I have witnessed this in these last few days in Africa.”
“I spoke with all four candidates (for the CAF presidency, three subsequently stepped down in favour of Patrice Motsepe from South Africa), and you all have the same vision. A strong and united Africa projecting on to the future. Today we celebrate unity,” he said.
Turning to his now frequently made call for Africa to step up, with his and FIFA’s help, to become a true player on the world stage, he said “we must stop saying we must develop Africa…” but get on with actually doing it.
“It is a CAF team and FIFA – you are CAF – you are FIFA. As a team you can win – we will win.”
Reminding delegates of the expanded World Cup in 2026, he said: “Africa will have nine or ten teams at the World Cup. We have doubled the number of teams from Africa. (The World Cup is a) celebration of world football and Africa has to be present and present in force. Africa has to play a leading role in world football.”
It is a message that has been heard many times over the past 20 years as Africa’s national teams have repeatedly failed to compete meaningfully with the European and South American best.
What hasn’t been so heard so frequently is Infantino’s continued focus on an international club competition and his ambition for the soon to be expanded club world cup. “We will focus on club football and the international match calendar,” said Infantino.
“I want 50 clubs from all over the world who can realistically become world champion.”
For Africa that actually still needs to start with the ‘over-talked about’ need for development. Pretty much anything else is still just words.
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