- Patrice Motsepe's leadership of the Confederation of African Football faced growing scrutiny after an unexpected policy reversal on the Afcon tournament cycle
- Samuel Eto'o, Ahmed Yahya, and at least two other senior football officials are positioning themselves as potential replacements for Motsepe
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino is believed to hold significant influence over whether Motsepe remains in office or steps down before 2029
Patrice Motsepe's hold on the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is under mounting pressure, with senior officials across the continent saying they have lost confidence in his leadership and a group of potential successors beginning to manoeuvre for position.
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The trigger for the latest discontent was Motsepe's surprise announcement last week that the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) would revert to a biennial schedule, just ten months after CAF formally adopted a four-year cycle.
The change is expected to be officially ratified at CAF's executive committee meeting in Abidjan next month. While the shift back to a two-year format has broad support across African football, multiple sources say the abrupt manner of the announcement has damaged trust in Motsepe's stewardship.
Most national association presidents were reportedly unaware he planned to raise the issue at a strategic conference in Cape Verde before he did so.
Rivals seek Infantino's backing
Among those believed to be positioning for a potential succession are Samuel Eto'o, the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker who currently serves as president of Cameroon's football federation and sits on CAF's executive committee.
Others include Mauritania's Ahmed Yahya, Côte d'Ivoire's Yacine Idriss Diallo, and Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti, a FIFA council member who has been charged with embezzlement and money laundering but has denied the allegations. Additional candidates may yet emerge from southern Africa.
Motsepe confirmed at the Cape Verde conference that he does not intend to seek a third term when his current mandate expires in 2029. He also pledged Africa's full backing for FIFA president Gianni Infantino's re-election in March, speaking on behalf of all 54 CAF member associations.
His potential rivals are now reportedly seeking Infantino's endorsement in the event that Motsepe is persuaded to leave office before his term concludes.
Finances and Infantino tensions
Relations between Motsepe and Infantino are reported to have soured after Motsepe permitted Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate at UEFA's Super Cup final in August, a decision that deepened tensions with European football's governing body. However, sources indicate the two have since moved to repair their working relationship as Infantino looks to consolidate African support ahead of his re-election bid.
CAF's financial position adds further complexity to Motsepe's situation. A broadcast deal with IMG is set to expire following the 2027 Afcon, and serious doubts remain over whether that tournament will proceed on schedule, given concerns about the readiness of co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Some sources suggest the event could be pushed back to the Christmas and new year period, which would create significant disruption to the European club calendar. CAF confirmed that broadcast rights negotiations remain ongoing and that no deal has yet been awarded.
Source: Briefly News
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