Gianni Infantino's campaign to hold onto the top seat at FIFA got a significant boost on Friday, when African football executives threw their support behind the Swiss-Italian administrator ahead of the governing body's leadership vote.
The show of solidarity from the African bloc carries real weight. African football confederations represent a large share of FIFA's membership, and their collective endorsement can shift the momentum of any leadership contest in a serious way.
Adding to Infantino's momentum, reports emerged the same day that a potential rival was stepping back from the race. Fewer challengers in the field makes the path to another term considerably smoother for the incumbent.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016, and his relationship with African football officials has been a consistent feature of his tenure. Friday's developments suggest that relationship is still very much intact as the vote approaches.
Originally published by AllAfrica.