South Africa’s Motsepe To Be Elected CAF President After Two Other Candidates Withdraw

Mamelodi Sundowns magnate Patrice Motsepe is set to be elected as Confederation of African Football (CAF) President unopposed on Friday March 11. This follows the withdrawal of two additional candidates from the race for the most noteworthy office in African football.

Patrice Motsepe had launched a 10-point activity plan he anticipates will transform African football about a month ago. According to Motsepe, he will run the office (CAF) in a way that is top notch.

Meanwhile, Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Ivory Coast’s Jacques Anouma have additionally pulled out from the race leaving Motsepe as the lone candidate.

The two’s withdrawal followed Senegalese Augustin Senghor’s decision to also pull out and toss his weight behind the mining financier.

Yahya was the youngest candidate in the bid for Africa’s greatest seat in football at age 44. In November 2020, he declared his interest for the CAF Presidency. But he later got out of the competition through a tweet:

“Committed to promoting African football. And after much thought and discussion, I have decided to submit my candidacy for the Presidency of the Confederation of African Football.”

As for Anouma, he was presumably the most experienced of the four as the solitary part to have served on the FIFA committee, with a set of experiences in football administration crossing just about forty years. He started off in 1983 when he joined Asec Mimosas’ Executive Committee until 1989, filling in as Treasurer.

Somewhere in the range of 1999 and 2001, the 69-year-old led JC Abidjan – the oldest club in Ivory Coast. He is also a former President of the Ivorian Football Federation and an Honorary President of the Ivorian Football Federation.

Pressure was heaping on him from FIFA to clarify reports that he had gotten a large number of cash (rands) from the government on the side of his campaign – allegations he denied.

In return for his withdrawal from the race, it is perceived, he was offered the job of a Special Advisor – a recommendation he had felt exasperated given his involvement with football administration. However, he at last bowed to pressure and pulled out.

The Madagascan’s campaign was, nonetheless, given an overwhelming blow when FIFA gave him a five-year ban from all football-related activities (managerial, sports or some other) for financial misconduct.

The FIFA Ethics Committee found that Ahmad had penetrated his obligation of unwaveringness by offering and tolerating endowments and different advantages, and misappropriation of assets. FIFA also fined him 200 000 Swiss francs ($200 000).

Issues of corruption and poor morals have for quite a long time defaced the image of African football, with the continent body recording a $6,8 million deficit for the 2018/19 season, however that is something CAF’s leader in pausing, Motsepe, says he couldn’t imagine anything better than to change.

Motsepe is idealistic CAF will remain on its feet, and has assured all enthusiasts of football across the African continent that, all monies made either through sponsorships or commitments will be taken care of well with due diligence and would be used for the correct reason. He said:

“On the issue of governance and ethics in African football, there are many companies all over the world who want give money to football but they want to be comfortable that the money will not go into the pockets of the leadership of football, and that the money will indeed be used to develop, to grow, to contribute towards the improvement of the quality of football in Africa. We aim at investing in developing and growing football in each African country and building partnerships and sponsorships with the private sector and other potential partners.”

Meanwhile, the yet to be named CAF President, Motsepe has rubbished rumours that whenever elected he would move the CAF Headquarters from Cairo in Egypt to South Africa. As indicated by him, there’s no goal to move the CAF central command of CAF from Cairo to South Africa. That is not what his candidacy is about.

Motsepe would step down from his obligations as Mamelodi Sundowns supervisor in accordance with the CAF Constitution when elected on Friday. His son, Kgosi, will take over as Chairman of the 10-time PSL champions.