South African businessman and Mamelodi Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe was re-elected unopposed as the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo on Wednesday.
Motsepe was first elected four years ago, and was tasked with restoring the federation’s image after his predecessor Ahmad Ahmad was suspended by FIFA over financial misconduct.
Since taking on the role as president, Motsepe has been credited with turning the organisation around.
“Patrice was a gift for African football. In 2021 CAF was a toxic body. He brought good governance to all levels of the organisation,” CAF secretary general Veron Mosengo-Omba said ahead of the CAF extraordinary general assembly in the Egyptian capital.
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In Motsepe’s tenure as president, African football has played a key role in FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s vision to grow the game. Motsepe played a key role in the creation of the African Super League, and was vocal in his support of Infantino’s proposed changes to the FIFA Club World Cup.
The revamped Club World Cup will take place later this year, with Motsepe’s Sundowns one of the teams that will be participating.
Also on Wednesday, former Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o was elected to the CAF executive committee by acclamation 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.
His elevation to the executive of the African governing body came at a CAF extraordinary general assembly – an annual meeting of top football officials in the continent.
Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Eto’o now joins the supreme decision-making body in Africa.
IOL Sport, additional reporting by AFP
