FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pledged to seek increased funding and additional resources for African football, saying the world governing body wants to help the continent compete at the highest level of the game.
Infantino made the commitment on Thursday while addressing presidents of Africa’s 54 football associations at a football strategy conference in Cape Verde.
He highlighted FIFA’s investment in the continent through its FIFA Forward programme, saying about $1 billion had been committed to African football over the past decade.
“ With the FIFA Forward programme we have invested one billion dollars in 10 years in Africa, with 124 different projects and many other actions,” Infantino said.
He said FIFA would continue supporting the development of football across the continent and urged the Confederation of African Football to clearly identify areas where additional assistance was needed.
“Our commitment is to make sure that your football is going to continue to improve and grow, give you more opportunities,” he said.
Infantino also pointed to the increased African representation at the most recent World Cup, describing the participation of 10 African nations as an achievement for the continent.
“We need to continue together on this path, because it is up to you as CAF to tell us what you want. How we can make you stronger and better,” he said.
The FIFA president said the organization would also explore ways of increasing the financial resources available to African football.
“We will continue to look for the resources and the increases in funding that are necessary to boost the African game to the top of world football,” he said.
Infantino also called for continued engagement between FIFA and African football authorities when concerns or disagreements emerge.
He said the governing body was prepared to listen to criticism and make changes where necessary.
“When you go through a journey, sometimes concerns are raised. When they are raised, we have to address them,” he said.
“As far as we are concerned at FIFA, we address them always with the spirit of dialogue and with open arms, an open heart and an open mind. We can always be better and do better.”
The pledge comes as Infantino faces scrutiny over his leadership following the collapse in July of a proposal to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup.
The proposal encountered resistance from several European and North American football associations, with some of those bodies subsequently withdrawing their support for Infantino ahead of next year’s FIFA presidential election.
