FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received strong backing from senior football officials following an emergency meeting convened to address mounting concerns over his leadership. The meeting ended with broad internal support for Infantino to continue serving as president of world football’s governing body.

The crisis meeting was called after weeks of criticism surrounding FIFA’s governance and decision-making. Despite the pressure, members of FIFA’s leadership expressed confidence in Infantino, describing him as the right person to guide the organisation through its current challenges.

According to officials who attended the meeting, there were no formal moves to remove Infantino from office. Instead, participants agreed that maintaining stability within FIFA was essential as the organisation continues preparations for major international competitions and pursues ongoing reforms.

Infantino thanked FIFA officials for their confidence and reiterated his commitment to strengthening transparency, promoting the growth of football worldwide and delivering successful tournaments. He also pledged to continue working with member associations to address concerns raised during the discussions.

The outcome of the meeting effectively reinforces Infantino’s position as FIFA president, easing immediate uncertainty over the organisation’s leadership while attention shifts back to the sport’s global calendar and upcoming competitions.

Two current and former Mississippi State track and field athletes delivered medal-winning performances at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, earning international recognition for Jamaica and Nigeria.

Former Bulldog Navasky Anderson claimed gold in the men’s 800 metres, producing a commanding performance to cross the finish line in 1:45.33. His victory made history as he became the first Jamaican man to win the Commonwealth Games title in the event. Anderson’s triumph also lifted him to 11th in the men’s 800m world rankings.

Rising Mississippi State junior Nicholas Fakorede also returned with a medal after helping Nigeria secure bronze in the men’s 4×100 metres relay. Fakorede ran the third leg of the race, playing a key role in Nigeria’s podium finish after a dramatic post-race review that briefly elevated the team to silver before Canada successfully appealed its disqualification.

Fakorede also impressed in the individual 100 metres, advancing to the semi-finals and narrowly missing a place in the final by just 0.01 seconds after clocking 10.06 seconds.

Mississippi State also celebrated strong performances from other former athletes, with Lee Eppie and Anderson Peters both finishing fourth in the men’s 400 metres and javelin throw, respectively, narrowly missing out on medals.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons bounced back from their opening defeat at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia in Rabat, reigniting their hopes of defending their continental title.

Veteran striker Asisat Oshoala proved the difference, scoring the only goal of the match in the eighth minute to hand the nine-time African champions a priceless three points. The goal marked her 15th career WAFCON goal, further cementing her status as one of the tournament’s greatest players.

Nigeria’s task became significantly harder before halftime when defender Blessing Demehin received a straight red card for fouling Zambia captain Barbra Banda, forcing the Super Falcons to play most of the encounter with 10 players. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the team produced a disciplined defensive display to protect their early lead until the final whistle.

The victory came after Nigeria’s shock opening defeat to Malawi and leaves the Super Falcons firmly back in contention for a place in the knockout stage. Head coach Justine Madugu praised his players’ resilience, while Oshoala’s experience once again proved decisive in a high-pressure encounter.

With three points now secured, Nigeria will turn its attention to its final Group C fixture, knowing another positive result could be enough to book a place in the quarter-finals and keep alive its quest for a record-extending WAFCON title.