Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected without opposition as the president of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for a second term. The 63-year-old South African, who has held the Caf presidency since 2021, announced his intention to run again in October 2024.
His re-election for another four years was confirmed during the CAF extraordinary general assembly held in Cairo on Wednesday, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended.
Motsepe, a prominent figure in the mining industry and owner of the South African club Mamelodi Sundowns said that he aims to continue the “good progress” achieved during his first four years in office.
While Motsepe’s re-election was a mere formality, elections were conducted for roles on Caf’s executive committee, where Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o secured a seat. The representatives for Africa on the FIFA Council were also elected during the executive general assembly on Wednesday.
Motsepe’s second term as leader of African football was practically assured before the Cairo event, as he was the only candidate to run for the position.
The absence of challengers could be interpreted as a sign of confidence in Motsepe’s leadership thus far, especially considering he took over CAF during a challenging period.
In 2021, Motsepe succeeded Ahmad from Madagascar, the first CAF president to receive a ban from FIFA.
Since his appointment, the African football body has experienced financial growth, reporting a profit of $72 million from the previous year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), 18 times larger than the 2022 edition.
In his speech on Wednesday, he emphasised the significance of national stadiums across Africa as one of his primary focus areas.
