Patrice Motsepe was re-elected unopposed as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday, marking the start of his second four-year term. The 54 member federations of CAF, which represent the continent’s football governing bodies, reaffirmed their support for Motsepe, who has been in office since 2021.
Motsepe, a South African billionaire with mining interests and the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, will also retain his position as a vice president of FIFA, continuing his $300,000-a-year role. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was present at the event, underscoring the strong ties between Motsepe and global football leadership.
During his re-election speech, Motsepe focused on the financial challenges faced by African countries in building and maintaining football infrastructure, particularly national stadiums. He highlighted that 12 of CAF’s 54 member countries are currently unable to host international matches due to substandard stadium facilities, a situation that affects the ability to host important competitions like World Cup qualifiers and the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Motsepe shared insights from his discussions with African heads of state, emphasizing the difficult financial decisions governments face. “Many of the heads of state I meet say to me, ‘Whatever money we have, we have to pay back our loans. We love football but we have to ask ourselves: should we build a stadium, or focus on healthcare and education?'” Motsepe explained, acknowledging that while governments recognize the importance of football, budget constraints often limit their support.
Motsepe’s comments reflect the harsh reality that, despite widespread passion for football across Africa, many governments face competing priorities when allocating funds. The CAF president expressed his concern about the lack of certified stadiums in several African countries, stressing that the situation is a significant barrier to football development on the continent.
“Africa cannot develop football if national teams and clubs do not play in front of their supporters,” Motsepe said. He proposed greater collaboration with private financiers to help federations build and upgrade stadiums, particularly in countries with limited government funding for such infrastructure.
Motsepe’s leadership has been marked by his advocacy for the growth of African football on the global stage, and under his guidance, Africa has secured a historic nine guaranteed spots in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Morocco made history by becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals, a milestone that Motsepe hopes will inspire greater support for the continent’s football programs.
In addition to his CAF responsibilities, Motsepe’s Mamelodi Sundowns team is set to compete in the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June, marking another significant step in African football’s global visibility.
Motsepe’s re-election comes at a time when African football is poised for greater international recognition, with the upcoming expansion of the World Cup and increased global opportunities for African teams. However, Motsepe’s focus remains on the urgent need to address the infrastructure gap that continues to hinder the full potential of the continent’s footballing future.
