The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, arrives in Zimbabwe today, to attend a controversial gathering arranged by the President of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa), Phillip Chiyangwa.

According to Ceoafrica, Mr Chiyanga insists it is a celebration to mark his 58th birthday as well as his ascendancy to the presidency of the regional confederation, Cosafa.

But the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) took a different view, claiming the meeting might be an attempt to destabilise CAF by gathering a host of continental football figures, and Mr Infantino, outside the usual forums.

Cosafa and Mr Chiyanga have thrown their weight behind the challenger to long-serving CAF president, Issa Hayatou.

He is the head of Madagascar's FA, Ahmad Ahmad - and he will be a guest in Harare this evening, along with 23 other football federation heads and FIFA’s secretary-general, Fatma Samoura.

Mr Hayatou is not a guest, but the head of the organising committee for the festivities, Chamu Chiwanza, told reporters there was no reason to read anything into that.

When you do your birthday party, invitations are sent at your own discretion. We asked Dr Philip Chiyangwa to come up with a guest list of the people that he thinks he's close to. I'm not saying he's not close to the CAF president but maybe he spoke to him and he's busy this weekend - and there was no need for him to invite him and apparently the FIFA president happened to be free on that particular day.

There's nothing sinister as far as I'm concerned. It's a private function. You are allowed to omit some people you don't want to be celebrating with you. If you're not friends with them why would you just invite them because they have a position?"