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, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in attendance.
The 63-year-old, who has led CAF since 2021, had initially been reserved about seeking re-election but confirmed his candidacy in October 2024 after receiving widespread encouragement from CAF member association presidents and key football stakeholders across Africa.
“The goal remains to make African football more competitive on the international stage, stabilise finances, and invest in infrastructure that will help our teams and players thrive,” Motsepe said after his re-election.
In his speech, Motsepe emphasized the importance of improving stadium infrastructure during his second term.
“In 2021, there were 36 countries without football facilities in their own countries. That number has now reduced to 12, but it’s still too high,” he noted. “At CAF and FIFA, it’s our responsibility to continue supporting the development of sports infrastructure across the continent.”
The lack of challengers for the presidency can be interpreted as a strong vote of confidence in Motsepe’s leadership, particularly after he took the helm of CAF during a time of crisis. He succeeded Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad, who became the first CAF president to be banned by FIFA for corruption.
Since assuming office, Motsepe, who also owns South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, has led a significant financial recovery for CAF. The organisation was grappling with a financial crisis following the termination of its $1 billion TV rights deal with Lagardère.
Under Motsepe’s leadership, CAF has settled its past debts, increased prize money for competitions, and provided enhanced financial support to member associations. The organisation reported a $72 million (£55.5m) profit from last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, 18 times larger than the profit generated from the previous edition in 2022. The tournament also attracted a record global audience of 2 billion viewers, marking one of the highlights of Motsepe’s first term.
While Motsepe’s re-election was largely ceremonial, elections were held for positions on CAF’s executive committee, with Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o securing a seat. The continent’s representatives on the FIFA Council were also elected during Wednesday’s assembly.
Motsepe’s unopposed re-election signifies that CAF member associations believe he is the right leader to continue advancing the revival of African football and solidifying its standing on the global stage.
