Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has challenged those seeking the removal of FIFA President Gianni Infantino to pursue their grievances through the established electoral process, saying the fate of the FIFA president should ultimately be decided by the organisation’s 211 member associations.
Motsepe’s comments come amid an escalating governance dispute within world football, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf openly challenging Infantino’s leadership and calling for him to step down.
“If anyone has a problem with anyone, whether it’s Gianni or anyone else, follow the procedure. Follow the FIFA procedure. It’s as simple as that,” Motsepe said, according to RMC Sport.
“If you want to remove him, go through the elections. Let the 211 FIFA member associations decide.”
The CAF president’s intervention places Africa’s football leadership firmly behind an electoral solution to the current FIFA crisis, rather than an attempt to force Infantino out of office outside the established presidential election process.
CAF has already endorsed Infantino
Motsepe’s position is consistent with the formal stance adopted by CAF earlier this year. On 29 April, CAF announced that its 54 member associations had unanimously agreed to support Infantino’s re-election for the 2027–2031 term. l
Infantino subsequently confirmed at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver that he would seek another term as FIFA president. FIFA has confirmed that the 77th FIFA Congress and presidential election will take place in Rabat, Morocco, on 18 March 2027.
That gives Infantino an important starting position: CAF represents 54 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, although the bloc’s formal endorsement does not necessarily guarantee that every African federation will ultimately vote for him.
Reuters reported on Thursday that African associations retain the right to vote independently, despite CAF’s collective position, and noted that several African federations have already publicly backed Infantino while others are taking a more cautious approach.
Growing opposition to Infantino
The political backdrop to Motsepe’s remarks is an increasingly serious disagreement between Infantino and several of FIFA’s most powerful confederations.
UEFA, AFC and Concacaf have criticised Infantino over his handling of a controversial proposal involving private investment in FIFA competitions, including the proposed sale of a share of future World Cup commercial rights. The plan generated substantial opposition before being abandoned. I
The three confederations have subsequently called for Infantino’s resignation, turning what began as a dispute over a commercial proposal into a broader debate about FIFA governance, transparency, consultation and presidential authority.
The Guardian has reported that Infantino’s opponents are also exploring a broader framework for reforming the way world football is governed, potentially making the 2027 presidential election a referendum on the direction of FIFThe numbers make Africa strategically important
The coming election is likely to be heavily influenced by the distribution of FIFA’s 211 votes.l
Each FIFA member association has one vote. 106 votes would be sufficient for a candidate to secure a simple majority when there are two candidates, while the threshold changes if more candidates contest the first round.
Africa’s 54 associations therefore constitute one of the largest voting blocs in the presidential contest.
That makes CAF’s position particularly significant in the developing struggle over FIFA’s leadership.
Motsepe, who is also a FIFA vice-president, has consistently presented cooperation and unity as central to his approach to global football governance. FIFA noted after his re-election as CAF president in 2025 that Infantino had praised the importance of a united Africa in influencing football at the global level.
But CAF’s endorsement does not automatically deliver 54 votes
The distinction between CAF’s institutional position and the individual voting decisions of African football associations is important.
While CAF has formally endorsed Infantino, the final vote at the FIFA Congress will be cast by individual member associations.
Reuters has highlighted previous instances in which African federations have voted differently from an official CAF position, meaning that Infantino’s support in Africa should not automatically be interpreted as 54 guaranteed votes.
Several African countries, including Egypt, Morocco and Niger, have already publicly backed Infantino, according to Reuters, while other federations have yet to make their final position clear.
This leaves room for the political landscape to change if a credible challenger emerges.
Motsepe’s message: contest the election
Against that backdrop, Motsepe’s intervention can be read as both a defence of FIFA’s electoral process and a direct response to those calling for Infantino’s immediate departure.
His argument is straightforward: if the opposition believes Infantino has lost the confidence of world football, it should put forward an alternative and allow the 211 member associations to decide.
The election is currently scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Rabat, giving potential challengers several months to organise their campaigns and secure the necessary nominations and support.
Infantino announced his intention to seek re-election in May, telling the FIFA Congress that he would stand again after receiving what FIFA described as support from its 211 member associations.
The emerging contest therefore has the potential to become much more than a conventional FIFA presidential election.
It could become a wider test of FIFA’s governance model, the balance of power between the confederations, Africa’s influence in global football, and the extent to which Infantino’s development agenda and leadership style continue to command support across the football world.
For now, Motsepe’s position is unequivocal: those who want Infantino removed should take their case to the ballot box and let FIFA’s member associations make the final decision.
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