Patrice Motsepe Secures Second Term As CAF President

The 63-year-old businessman, who has been CAF president since 2021, had announced his decision to stand again in October 2024.

His re-election for another four-year reign was confirmed at the CAF extraordinary general assembly in Cairo on Wednesday, where FIFA president, Mr Gianni Infantino, was in attendance.

Mr Motsepe, a mining magnate, who also owns South African club, Mamelodi Sundowns, had said he was looking to continue the “good progress” he had made since coming to office four years ago.

This re-appointment means he would serve a second four-year term as CAF boss.

Mr Motsepe was elected by acclamation in Morocco four years ago, succeeding Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad, who had been suspended by FIFA over financial misconduct.

Mr Ahmad had become the first CAF president to be banned by FIFA.

Since then, the African football body has grown financially, making a $72 million (£55.5 million) profit from last year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), 18 times bigger than that generated by the previous edition in 2022.

Speaking on the re-election, CAF secretary general, Mr Veron Mosengo-Omba, credited Mr Motsepe with improving the finances and governance of the organisation.

“Patrice was a gift for African football. In 2021 CAF was a toxic body. He brought good governance to all levels of the organisation,” Mr Mosengo-Omba said ahead of the meeting.

Also, former Cameroon football star, Mr Samuel Eto’o, was elected to the CAF executive committee by acclamation in Cairo on Wednesday as he was the lone candidate from the central Africa region.

The 44-year-old became eligible only last week after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned a CAF ban on the ex-Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea forward.

Mr Eto’o, who is Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president, now joins the supreme decision-making body in Africa.

The CAF ban of Eto’o came last year after the three-time Champions League winner was found guilty by the Cairo-based organisation of an ethics breach.

Last July, CAF said the Cameroonian had “seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship” by becoming a brand ambassador for a betting organisation.