South African mining magnate Dr Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday, March 12.
The re-election was attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The 63-year-old, who has led CAF since 2021, had remained reserved about seeking re-election but confirmed his decision in October 2024 following numerous requests from CAF member association presidents and other key football stakeholders across the continent.
Motsepe, the owner of South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, expressed his continued commitment to enhancing African football, stating, “The goal remains making African football competitive on the international stage, stabilising finances, and investing in infrastructure that allows our teams and players to thrive.”
One of the key areas Motsepe highlighted for his second term is the development of stadium infrastructure.
He pointed out the progress made in this area since his first term, saying, “In 2021, 36 countries were not playing football in their countries. Now that number has been reduced to 12, but it is still a big challenge.”
Motsepe’s re-election without opposition is viewed as a vote of confidence in his leadership, which has helped CAF recover from a period of financial instability following the termination of its $1 billion TV rights deal with Lagardère.
Under his stewardship, CAF has stabilised its finances, settled past debts, increased prize money for its competitions, and boosted financial support for member associations.
A highlight of his first term was the $72 million profit generated from last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, 18 times greater than the profit from the 2022 edition. The tournament also attracted a record global audience of 2 billion viewers.
While Motsepe’s re-election was uncontested, elections for positions on CAF’s executive committee took place, with Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o securing a seat. Additionally, the assembly voted in Africa’s representatives for the FIFA Council.
Motsepe’s unopposed re-election reflects the confidence CAF member associations have in his leadership as he continues to steer African football toward greater success on the global stage.
RELATED NEWS:
