FIFA has become a crucial source of financial support for African football, but its growing influence has raised questions about dependency, governance, and the continent’s ability to set its own football priorities. Under President Gianni Infantino, the FIFA Forward program has provided more than $1 billion to African football since 2016, with some national federations relying on FIFA for up to 30% of their budgets. The funding has supported infrastructure and elite competitions, but critics argue that weak governance within national federations has limited its developmental impact. FIFA’s expanded World Cup allocation for Africa, from five to nine slots in 2026, represents a major benefit. However, African football administrators have broadly supported Infantino despite controversial decisions affecting the continent. Experts argue that African governments and football associations must strengthen governance, accountability, and domestic capacity to ensure that FIFA funding promotes sustainable growth rather than reinforcing institutional dependence.