A new supporter for Infantino in his major cause: without him we would never have dreamed of the World Cup
Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya has thrown his full weight behind Gianni Infantino to remain at the helm of FIFA. His country's historic qualification of its women's team for the 2027 World Cup, he insists, is a direct result of FIFA's investment in Africa.
Speaking exclusively to Reuters on Wednesday, Haiya said the Malawi side would never have pulled off the feat without Infantino's vision. The team caused a shock at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, reaching the semi-finals and booking their World Cup place.
He added: "If we look at what Infantino has achieved in developing football for the less fortunate associations and for Africa in general, I would be very surprised if any African association did not support him."
Haiya put his loyalty to Infantino, who faces mounting pressure, down to the FIFA chief's focus on equal opportunities and his backing of grassroots and women's football. "He believed in us when we spoke to him about our projects, and as a result Malawi qualified for the World Cup for the first time," he said. "What more could one need than a president who listens to you and believes in your vision?"
Infantino recently withdrew a controversial proposal to sell a share of the World Cup's commercial rights for 4.2 billion dollars. Haiya reckoned pulling it was the right call on governance grounds, though he stressed the need for another mechanism to guarantee financial support for poorer associations.
The proposed 40 million dollar grant, he pointed out, would have been a "game changer" for his country. "Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and we suffer from serious infrastructure problems," he explained. "If you saw the pitches on which our girls who qualified for the World Cup train, you would be shocked. We have the talent but we lack the resources."
Haiya signed off by calling his loyalty to Infantino "firm and unshakeable". He welcomed any democratic competition in next March's FIFA elections, but added: "Whoever wants to challenge Infantino must declare their intentions and explain what they will offer Malawi. So far I am satisfied with the way he runs FIFA, and the known is better than the unknown."
