WeeklySA_AdminSECOND TERM: SA billionaire retains CAF presidency amid wide-ranging advances at a pace with many historic firsts…
By Sports Reporter
Dr Patrice Motsepe was elected for a second term as President of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday and will build on the extensive progress from his first term to make African Football globally competitive.
Dr Motsepe’s objective when he first took office in March 2021 was to make African Football self-sustaining and drive growth in a number of different spheres. The last four years has seen CAF move its development agenda forward at pace with many historic firsts. These achievements are contained in a publication to mark Dr Motsepe’s first four years as President, titled, ‘The Growth and Success of African Football Continues’ .
The magazine walks us through Dr Motsepe’s 10-point plan when he took office, and the wide-ranging advances that have been made towards reaching and surpassing his objectives.
Motsepe did not have any competitor coming into the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt in what was a brief exercise as the South African billionaire got four more years to continue the great work he has been doing in his first term.
Motsepe’s first term has been marked with major transformation on the continent that has elevated African football, with increased revenue as well as prize money in various competitions, and the success of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations also credited to him.
CAF released healthy financial figures for the 2022/23 financial year during last October’s congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with losses reducing from R507 million to R162 million in the previous year with projections of a net profit of R205 million in the coming financial year.
Under Motsepe, CAF organised the best-ever AFCON in 2023 in Ivory Coast, setting a new viewership record of over two billion viewers worldwide, making it the most-watched in its over 60-year history, while it generated $80 million in profit, the highest ever.
This was down to an increase in broadcast and sponsorship revenue as the tournament attracted interest from all over the world.
Motsepe’s leadership has also seen an increase in prize money in all its competitions with AFCON 2023 winners Ivory Coast taking home $7million, a 40 percent increase from the previous edition, runners-up Nigeria getting $4 million, while semi-finalists received $2.5 million as $1.3 million went to each of the quarter-finalists.
What else has Motsepe changed at CAF?
In January, CAF also increased the prize money for the 2024 African Nations Championships by 75 percent, with winners of the tournament, set to take place in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August, to pocket $3.5 million (R65 million), with the total prize pool being $10.4 million set aside, a 32 percent increase.
Motsepe’s reign has also seen less bickering and infighting among the CAF leadership while women’s football has also benefited with an increased focus as well as the rise in prize money. Each of the Women’s Champions League teams were receiving $150,000 last year.
The continental football governing body is also targeting revenues of up to $1 billion in the next eight years and Motsepe will be tasked with bringing that to fruition during his second four-year term.
In a dramatic turn of events, Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, has emerged victorious after a whirlwind fortnight. Cleared by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and reinstated in the FIFA Executive Committee race by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Eto’o achieved a significant milestone. On Wednesday, he was elected by acclamation during CAF’s 14th General Assembly.
As the sole candidate from the UNIFFAC zone, Eto’o now steps into the Executive Committee, succeeding his compatriot Seidou Mbombo Njoya. His four-year term marks a new chapter in his storied career, transitioning from football legend to influential administrator.
This victory caps a period of intense scrutiny and legal battles, showcasing Eto’o’s resilience and determination. His election not only solidifies his leadership role but also highlights his growing influence in shaping the future of African football.Re-elected CAF president Patrice Motsepe told new executive committee member and former Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o on Wednesday in Cairo that the “past remains in the past”.
After an illustrious career with numerous European clubs, including Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea, Eto’o has become a controversial official.
Since being elected head of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) in 2001, he has admitted assaulting a football supporter and been banned by FIFA and CAF.
When video footage went viral of Eto’o attacking a fan after a 2022 World Cup match in Qatar, the four-time African Footballer of the Year publicly apologised.
FIFA barred Eto’o from attending men’s and women’s internationals involving Cameroon for six months over his “offensive behaviour” during the 2024 Women’s under-20 World Cup in Colombia.
CAF suspended one of the greatest African footballers for “seriously violating the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship” by becoming a brand ambassador for a betting organisation. That ban would have barred Eto’o from seeking an executive committee place on Wednesday at a hotel overlooking the pyramids in the Egyptian capital.
But he successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the ban was lifted late last week, just in time for Eto’o to win a place on the executive committee by acclamation.
In a committee including representatives from each of the six CAF geographical regions, Eto’o was the sole candidate from the Central African Football Federations Union (UNIFFAC).
Reacting to the election of the three-time UEFA Champions League winner, Motsepe said: “The CAF executive committee made a decision about Samuel Eto’o that was overturned by CAS.
“He (Eto’o) has now been elected as one of the leaders of African football, and the most important thing is that we must support him. “Everyone at CAF must ensure that incidents involving Eto’o in the past must remain in the past. “Nothing that occurred previously should now be held against him. I believe he has an important contribution to make.”
“Cameroon, under the leadership of Samuel, will return to its glory days,” added the 63-year-old as he prepares to start a second four-year term as the leader of African football.
