The entrance of Motsepe as a candidate for the CAF presidency in 2021 excited a continent that has seen its football fortunes plummet under former strongman, the late Issah Hayatou of Cameroon. Towards the end of his 29-year reign, Hayatou was accused of corruption, chiefly under disgraced former FIFA boss, Sepp Blatter, as football faced its darkest moments.
Hayatou was regarded as the ‘emperor’ of football, but under his watch the distribution of the football ‘cake’ was largely skewed towards the west and north. East and Southern Africa were bystanders, with the CAF executive dominated by officials from other regions on the continent. The hosting of major CAF competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, increasingly became the preserve of the north and west.
Former Madagascar politician, Ahmad Ahmad, is credited with sparking a seismic shift when he felled African football’s Goliath on March 16, 2017.
Hayatou had exhibited megalomaniac tendencies as he stuck to the CAF position for nearly three decades. After his fall, a southern African was in charge for the first time when little-known Ahmad performed the David act.
But Ahmad’s reign did not last long and he too was accused of corruption, before Motsepe entered the fray.
The moment Motsepe’s intentions steadily blew across the corridors of African football, it was effectively game over for all aspiring heirs to the throne.
In the run-up to the 2021 elections, three of Motsepe’s challengers, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor‚ Mauritanian Ahmed Yahya, and Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast, withdrew from the contest to clear the path for the South African. There would be no doubting that his clout as an astute businessman had a far-reaching influence on voting delegates. Motsepe is credited with engineering the re-modelling of South Africa’s club success story, Mamelodi Sundowns, which before his arrival, had struggled to assert its dominance on the continent.
When Motsepe took over at CAF, the continental body’s level of debt was around $40 million. He promised to commercialise the game and in the process, the cash began to roll. CAF’s member association presidents now pocket $50,000 (around P700,000) per year.
Prize money for CAF club competitions has increased significantly whilst the flagship tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations, recorded resounding financial success at the last edition in Ivory Coast. The tournament brought in $70 million profit, which was 18 times that of the figure recorded during the 2022 edition. Against murmurings of discontent from some quarters, Motsepe introduced a club competition for the super-rich, with his Sundowns walking away the winners, in the process pocketing $4 million. Critics argued the competition widened the gap between the haves and have-nots as Motsepe’s firm belief in dipping into the pocket to grow the game has remained undiminished.
He has also introduced the CAF schools competition whilst at the same time, setting sights on ensuring every member association has a world class stadium.
However, the lack of quality stadia across the continent has remained a grey area and Motsepe, in his speech this week, promised changes. “In 2021, there were 36 countries that were not playing football in their countries. The number has come down to 12 but for us, this is still a big number. At CAF and FIFA, it is our job to continue supporting the development of sports infrastructure,” Motsepe said.
Such progress has been visible for all to see as Motsepe has become the agent of change the African game yearned for.
Whilst there were reports Motsepe could face opposition heading towards the close of nomination on November 12, no one came forward to challenge the 63-year-old.
It could be an overwhelming endorsement of his leadership qualities, particularly after he dug CAF out of a financial quagmire. Motsepe also enjoys a close relationship with FIFA president, Gianni Infantino. Those who dare challenge him rarely make it to the finish line, with talk of compromise, like what happened in 2021. Motsepe will stand proud if his lack of opposition is down to his impeccable leadership.
However, there could be the flip-side, where Motsepe is regarded as a ruthless administrator with a disdain for opposition. Some actions point to decisions centred on an all-too-powerful individual whose word goes. It throws into doubt the capacity of those around him to expressly engage in meaningful dialogue. From the outside, it would appear what Motsepe wants, Motsepe gets, making him the focal point of all decision-making. It is all evidence of the power of money, with Motsepe ranked as one of Africa’s richest persons with an estimated net worth of $3 billion, according to Forbes.
1. Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem (Egypt) 1957–1958
2. Abdel Aziz Moustafa (Egypt) 1958–1968
3. Abdel Halim Mohamed (Sudan) 1968–1972
4. Yidnekatchew Tessema (Ethiopia) 1972–1987
5. Abdel Halim Mohamed (Sudan) 1987–1988
6. Issa Hayatou (Cameroon) 1988–2017
7. Ahmad Ahmad (Madagascar) 2017–2021
8. Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) 2021–present
Past CAF presidents
