Samuel Eto’o has backed Gianni Infantino to remain FIFA president, dismissing criticism of the governing body’s leader as pressure grows ahead of next year’s election.
The president of the Cameroon Football Federation told CNN he believed the controversy surrounding Infantino was being driven primarily by the approaching vote, rather than wrongdoing by the FIFA president.
“I don’t think President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong. I think the timing of all of this is because there is an election coming and Gianni Infantino is standing. All of this has happened because there is an election coming. That’s all there is,” Eto’o said.
Infantino is seeking another term in office, with the FIFA presidential election due to take place on 18 March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.
His leadership has faced increased scrutiny following the failure of a proposal to sell private investors a 20% stake in the commercial rights to FIFA competitions. The proposed agreement was reportedly worth about $4.2bn.
The plan met strong opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF. Critics raised concerns about how the proposal had been managed and questioned whether FIFA’s member associations had been properly consulted.
Several European associations have subsequently withdrawn their support for Infantino, while calls have grown for an alternative candidate to contest the election. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said he will not stand against Infantino, although he expects another challenger to emerge.
Eto’o, one of Africa’s most prominent football figures, argued that Infantino’s record should be judged by the opportunities created for developing football nations.
“President Gianni Infantino has changed football. He has given opportunities to nations that did not have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup,” said the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker.
“He has helped our continent. He has helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that. We need to accept and recognise what he has done, and we should support him for everything he has done up to now.”
Africa has been among the regions to benefit from the expansion of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48. The continent has nine guaranteed places at the 2026 tournament, along with the possibility of securing an additional place through the play-off tournament.
The 2026 World Cup has also offered several African nations the chance to compete on an expanded global stage. FIFA said the first 48-team edition of the competition included four debutants and seven countries reaching the knockout phase for the first time.
FIFA has pointed to its investment in African football through the FIFA Forward programme. The organisation said more than $1bn had been invested in football development across the continent since 2016, with the total expected to reach $1.28bn by the end of 2026.
Eto’o’s intervention gives Infantino another influential voice from Africa as he seeks to strengthen his position before the election.
Opposition among several major football authorities continues to build, but Infantino retains significant support in Africa and other regions.
The former Cameroon striker said attention should remain on the opportunities created during Infantino’s leadership instead of the political contest surrounding the FIFA presidency. His endorsement comes as Infantino faces the most serious challenge to his position since announcing his intention to seek another term.
