Africa: FIFA in Africa - Has Gianni Infantino Really Helped Football Development?

What the report says

AllAfrica, citing The Conversation Africa, published an analysis on 27 August 2026 questioning whether FIFA president Gianni Infantino has advanced football development in Africa or mainly accelerated the game’s commercialisation. The piece centers on a discussion with Gerard A. Akindes, who studies the political economy of African football, and looks at FIFA’s influence through the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and national federations.

The article says FIFA provides important funding through its development programmes, including the FIFA Forward scheme, but argues that this support can also deepen dependence on the global governing body. It notes that school sport systems were weakened by long-term government underinvestment and policy shifts, while private academies and European league broadcasting have pulled talent and attention away from domestic football. The analysis also says concerns have been raised about transparency in the use of some FIFA funds, though those concerns are described as reports rather than findings established by the article.

The piece further contends that FIFA’s visible investments have tended to favor elite competitions, tournament structures and infrastructure more than grassroots development. It points to planned football academies and the Football for Schools programme as examples of initiatives whose long-term impact is still unclear. The author also highlights the growing role of pay-TV and digital rights in restricting access for many African fans, making the article’s broader argument that commercial returns increasingly shape the sport’s future on the continent. In context, the analysis reflects a wider debate over whether FIFA’s funding helps build sustainable local football systems or reinforces dependency on external support.