Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), has been re-elected for a second term.
The 63-year-old South African has held the position since 2021 and decided to run again. His presidency was confirmed during the Caf extraordinary general assembly in Cairo, attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Motsepe’s Leadership and Re-election
Motsepe, a mining magnate and owner of the South African club Sundowns, expressed his intention to continue the progress he has made since taking office.
His re-election was seen as a formality, as there were no opposing candidates, which indicates strong trust in his leadership.
Motsepe took office during a crisis period for Caf, succeeding Ahmad of Madagascar, who had been banned by Fifa. Under his leadership, African football has grown significantly.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last year generated a $72 million profit, 18 times more than the previous edition in 2022.
Statement on Progress and Future Goals
In a statement regarding his second term, Motsepe said, “Progress has been made, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”
He also discussed the importance of supporting sports infrastructure development, noting that while 36 countries were not playing football in their own countries in 2021, the number has decreased to 12, but still remains a concern.
Eto’o Joins Caf’s Executive Committee
During the assembly, elections were also held for positions on Caf’s executive committee, with Samuel Eto’o, the legendary Cameroonian footballer, joining the committee.
Eto’o, who is also the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, was the only candidate from the central Africa region and was elected unopposed.
Legal Battle and Eto’o’s Return to the Committee
Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld Eto’o’s appeal, allowing him to be included on the candidate list after initially being excluded by Caf’s governance committee in January.
The 44-year-old former Cameroon striker had been sanctioned by both Fifa and Caf for violating disciplinary regulations, particularly after he took up an ambassadorial role for a betting company. The $200,000 fine was later overturned on appeal.
Along with Eto’o, five other members were also elected to Caf’s executive committee, strengthening the leadership of African football moving forward.