FIFA president hails Africa’s unity, calls for action on the development of African football

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has applauded the spirit of unity in Africa after Dr Patrice Motsepe became the 7th CAF President unopposed at the 43rd CAF General Assembly, today, 12 March 2021 in Rabat, Morocco.

The race began with five candidates, eventual winner Patrice Motsepe, Augustin Senghor, Ahmed Yahya, Jacques Anouma and Ahmad Ahmad who was eliminated from the race after being suspended from all football related activities for 2years.

The trio of Augustin Senghor, Ahmed Yahya and Jacques Anouma all withdrew from the race days ago, leaving Motsepe unopposed and Infantino has hailed the spirit of unity that made all four men who shared similar visions back one person.

“We know the values of football, but the most important value is team spirit. This is the team spirit that we have witnessed these days in Africa,” Infantino said.

“You all have the same vision, the same idea. You all want a strong and united Africa, projecting itself forward. And today, it is the celebration of this unity. And it is thanks to you, it is your decision, your wish, your hope and your ambition.”

Infantino urged Motsepe and other football stakeholders in Africa to move the status of football on the continent from talking stage to action stage. “I have already said it, and I say it again. We must stop saying that it is necessary to develop African football,” he said.

“It is about projecting it to the summit of world football. The time for talking has stopped. We must move on, and we must move on as a team: as a CAF team and a FIFA team that also includes all the confederations and associations from all over the world. You are CAF. You are FIFA.”

CAF president automatically qualified as FIFA Vice President. Infantino denied any talk of FIFA meddling in the election though he admitted it was an election FIFA was interested in.