Eto’o backs Infantino, praising his impact on African football

Samuel Eto’o has taken a clear stance in favour of Gianni Infantino, calling on African federations to support the FIFA president ahead of the March 2027 elections. In an interview with L’Équipe, the Cameroon FA chief argued that Infantino has “changed football”, pointing to the expanded 48‑team World Cup as a decisive boost for African nations.

The 2026 edition granted Africa nine direct spots, up from five in 2022, a shift Eto’o believes will help federations grow and compete more consistently on the global stage. He stressed that Infantino has “helped our continent” and accelerated development across national associations, urging leaders to recognise his contribution.

His comments arrive at a sensitive moment for Infantino, who faces mounting criticism from European football, including opposition from Italy’s federation. Tensions have intensified since the controversial, later abandoned proposal to transfer FIFA’s commercial rights to a new entity involving external investors.