FIFA President Gianni Infantino said during a visit to Uganda that he had made Africa "a big priority" since coming into office, according to Andrew Jackson Oryada of the BBC. He said, "I decided to make Africa a big priority since I came to office last year. I started this by appointing an African woman as the FIFA secretary general in Fatma Samoura. Africa has the talent and passion for the game of football and this is a very big advantage." Infantino promised that "more investment would be made in Africa" by FIFA while he is in office, starting from this year (BBC, 2/25). The BBC reported Infantino stated he has "no influence" on next month's Confederation of African Football presidential elections. His comments came after he attended a party on Thursday hosted by the chair of the Council of Southern African FAs, which has endorsed CAF candidate Ahmad Ahmad. Infantino: "It is up to the CAF members to elect their own president" (BBC, 2/24).
PINNICK DRAWS CRITICISM: The BBC's Piers Edwards reported Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has been criticized for "revealing who he will vote for" in the CAF presidential election. NFF Exec Committee member Chris Green "has insisted intentions should be secret" until the March 16 election. Green: "I think we should conduct ourselves in a decent manner and let our votes count on the day. This is democracy and it's going to be a secret ballot -- we have not to talk" (BBC, 2/24).