Namibia Football Association president Robert Shimooshili has backed beleaguered Fifa president Gianni Infantino and reiterated that the association stands united with the Confederation of African Football.
Following the 2026 World Cup, Infantino proposed to sell off stakes in the international football body’s competitions to private investors, in terms of a new commercial subsidiary called the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), but following criticism and outrage from several football associations as well as confederations such as the European Football Association (Uefa), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football), Fifa withdrew the proposed FFE.
Critics have said that private firms would prioritise financial returns over fans and ticket affordability and the global development of the game, while Uefa even threatened to boycott Fifa events.
In terms of the FFE, football associations would receive a substantial increase in funding up to a potential US$40 million (about N$640 million) over a four-year cycle from 2027 to 2030. That would consist of an immediate payment of US$20 million and an increase in cycle funding of US$20 million per member association, which was a substantial increase on the previously planned US$8 million to US$10 million.
The Confederation of African Football, meanwhile, endorsed the withdrawal of FFE, but also reaffirmed its support of Infantino in an official statement on 6 August.
“The CAF exco unanimously reconfirmed its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African football, over the years,” the statement says.
Shimooshili on Wednesday reiterated CAF’s support of Infantino.
“If CAF rallies behind Infantino, then we also support the president of Fifa at the moment. We have confidence in him, and we don’t mind what Uefa or AFC or Concacaf say. That is their right and we cannot do anything about it,” he said.
“The proposed sponsorship was something good for Namibia and Africa as a whole, because we believe in development and there’s no way we can grow or develop the game without resources. Fifa has now put the plan on hold, but I believe they will introduce a new plan and we appreciate that,” he said.
FUNDS DESPERATELY NEEDED
Shimooshili said the proposed funds would help Namibian football a lot.
“In Namibia we need a lot of resources because there are a lot of projects we plan to do. For example, we want to ensure we have regional offices, while we even struggle to meet our basic needs to run domestic leagues. If we could have this money, it would help us a lot.
“We are supposed to build the planned technical centre at the NFA headquarters with this money, while there are many other areas that needs resources like futsal, women’s football, and youth development.
“All these things we could do with these funds and there was never a promise of this nature before, so it was a wonderful gesture, but we will now have to wait and see what will happen next,” he said.
Shimooshili said Infantino has done a lot for Namibia and should be supported.
“The president of Fifa was supposed to visit Namibia last year, which had something to do with football development infrastructure in particular, but that trip was postponed. But president Infantino was also instrumental in assisting us with the proposed Saudi Arabia football development fund which will benefit Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, following an engagement we had with him and Saudi Arabia.
“We are more than happy to engage people who are ready to assist the nation and the member associations. Who are we as Namibia not to support him?” he asked.
“I can give you one example: When our the late secretary general, Charles Siyauya, died last year, we received funeral assistance from Fifa and CAF, so that was a very strong show of solidarity, which one has to appreciate in terms of the humanitarian spirit,” he said.
SAM NUJOMA STADIUM ALMOST DONE
Meanwhile, with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers due to start next month, Shimooshili said Namibia should be able to host home matches soon.
“We engaged with Angola and Botswana and the possibility is very high for Namibia to participate in both countries. Botswana confirmed that we can use their national stadium in Gaborone, as well as the one in Francistown,” he said.
“Regarding the renovation of our own stadiums, the City of Windhoek has confirmed to us that Sam Nujoma Stadium will be completed by November, and if that happens, we can proudly host our home matches there.
“Windhoek’s Independence Stadium falls under the sport ministry, so I can’t say when that will be ready,” he said.
Shimooshili said the proposed joint bid to host Afcon 2028 along with South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe is awaiting government approval.
“We had discussions with the Namibian government, and that’s why the prime minister was mandated to spearhead the consultation with all related stakeholders to see whether it’s possible or not. We are still waiting from the government to hear what is the position,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia this week also put in a formal bid to host Afcon 2028, according to an AFP report.
“Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to CAF to host Afcon 2028,” its federation said on X, “reaffirming the nation’s full readiness to host Africa’s biggest footballing event”.
According to reports, several other African nations have also expressed interest in hosting Afcon 2028, including Morocco, Angola, Rwanda, Senegal, Mali and Guinea.
