CAF Elections Heat Up: Motsepe Re-Elected, Eto’o And Other Legends Join The Executive Committee

Motsepe secured his position at the extraordinary general assembly held in Cairo, marking the continuation of his leadership since assuming office in 2021. His re-election comes after he announced his intention to seek a second term in October 2024, reflecting the trust and confidence CAF members have in his leadership. Motsepe plans to build on the significant progress made over the past four years, particularly during a challenging period for African football.

While Motsepe’s re-election was widely anticipated, elections were also held for other positions within CAF’s executive committee. One notable result was the election of football legend Samuel Eto’o, who joined the committee while continuing his role as president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot). Eto’o’s election is especially significant as he was the only candidate from the Central Africa region and received a warm welcome from the delegates.

Under Motsepe’s leadership, CAF has seen a financial revival, with last year’s Africa Cup of Nations generating an impressive profit of $72 million, a significant increase compared to previous tournaments. Motsepe acknowledged that while progress has been made, there remains much work to do, especially in improving sports infrastructure across Africa. He emphasized the need for better national stadiums, noting that the number of countries not hosting football matches has dropped from 36 to 12, though further efforts are still needed.

Eto’o’s election to the CAF executive committee also attracted significant attention, particularly following a recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that allowed him to participate after a prior disqualification. Despite a suspension last year due to disciplinary issues, his leadership is now being met with optimism.

Additional elections were held for six African representatives on the FIFA Council, with Hany Abo Rida (Egypt) and Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco) successfully retaining their positions. Four new representatives were elected: Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros), Hamidou Djibrilla Hima (Niger), Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania), and Souleymane Waberi (Djibouti).

On the CAF executive committee, five members were elected unopposed alongside Eto’o. Mustapha Ishola Raji (Liberia) was re-elected for another term, while newcomers Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Kurt Simeon-Okraku (Ghana), and Sadi Walid (Algeria) joined the leadership team. In a closely watched outcome, Elvis Chetty of Seychelles lost his seat, and Feizal Sidat (Mozambique) and Samir Sobha (Mauritius) took their places as Southern African representatives.