The Confederations of African Football (CAF) delegates, including football chiefs from around the continent, are meeting in Casablanca for the 2018 General Assembly.
High on the agenda is Cameroon’s preparation for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The CAF fears is Cameroon is behind schedule.
Among those present at the Assembly meeting include CAF President Ahmad Ahmad, his FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino, as well as FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
Infantino praised the development of African football, an objective he pledged to focus on during his campaign for the FIFA presidency.
This is the FIFA chief’s first visit to Morocco. The visit comes as he faces criticism and accusations of bias from Moroccan media. Morocco is making a bid to host the 2026 World Cup. It is the fifth time Morocco has sought to host the event. Infantino’s praise for a joint bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the tournament upset many in Morocco.
While attending a conference in Dubai, he was reported to have said: “Joint nominations are good things, and the fact that Canada, Mexico and the US are united in a common project is a positive message.”
Moroccan media saw this as a message of support to the joint bid by the North American nations.
Tasked to comment on the allegations, he said: “I was asked a question, I answered because I am a polite man. I also appreciate the Moroccan candidacy. ”
CAF had thrown its weight behind Morocco’s bid for the 2026 World Cup saying Morocco had proven that it was ready to host major tournaments.
The FIFA Congress will conduct a vote in June to decide on whether to select one of those bids.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, following FIFA’s approval of the tournament’s expansion from 32 teams.
