Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected unopposed as the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), securing a second four-year term at the organization’s extraordinary general assembly held in Cairo.
The 63-year-old South African businessman, who first assumed office in 2021, had announced his intention to seek re-election in October 2024. With no challengers stepping forward, his continuation as the leader of African football was all but guaranteed ahead of Wednesday’s official confirmation. FIFA president Gianni Infantino was among the notable figures present at the event.
Motsepe, who also owns South African football powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, expressed his commitment to continuing the progress made during his first tenure. His leadership has been credited with steering CAF through a turbulent period, following the controversial reign of his predecessor, Ahmad Ahmad, who was banned by FIFA.
Stability and Financial Growth Under Motsepe
Motsepe’s unopposed re-election can be interpreted as a sign of confidence in his leadership, particularly given the financial turnaround CAF has experienced in recent years. Under his watch, the organization reported a $72 million profit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a staggering 18-fold increase compared to the previous tournament in 2022.
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However, Motsepe acknowledged that challenges remain. One key issue he highlighted in his speech was the state of football infrastructure across Africa.
“In 2021, 36 countries could not host international matches due to inadequate stadiums. That number has now dropped to 12, but it is still too high,” he stated, reaffirming CAF’s commitment to supporting infrastructure development in partnership with FIFA.
Samuel Eto’o Enters CAF Leadership
While Motsepe’s re-election was a formality, elections for CAF’s executive committee brought new faces into leadership, with Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o securing a seat.
Eto’o, a four-time African Footballer of the Year and current president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), was elected unopposed as the representative for the Central Africa region. His candidacy had initially been blocked by CAF’s governance committee in January, but a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport allowed him to run.
The 44-year-old has had a controversial tenure at Fecafoot, facing scrutiny over his leadership style and involvement in a betting company that led to a temporary ban by CAF. Despite these challenges, his election was met with applause, signifying his enduring influence in African football.
As CAF embarks on another four years under Motsepe’s leadership, the focus will remain on financial stability, infrastructure development, and governance reforms to further elevate African football on the global stage.
