Patrice Motsepe reelected unopposed as CAF President, what does this mean for football?
Motsepe was first elected in 2021.
Patrice Motsepe / Wikimedia Commons: CGZ G3N3
947’s Robert Marawa chats to African football journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.
Listen below.
Patrice Motsepe was re-elected unopposed as President of the Confederations of African Football (CAF).
This will be the Mamelodi Sundowns owner’s second term, having first been elected in 2021.
Obayiuwana says the lack of opposition could be seen as both confidence in Motsepe’s presidency and concern over the lack of democracy within CAF.
“Let’s look at this from the prism of a national politics… How would the citizens feel if when national elections come, they only have one person on the ballot to be president?... This is not good for football.”
– Osasu Obayiuwana, journalist
Elections were also held for CAF’s executive committee with Cameron football legend Samuel Eto’o winning a seat.
He was the sole candidate from the Central African region.
Eto’o was suspended last year by both FIFA and CAF for violating disciplinary regulations.
The ban and the fine were lifted upon appeal.
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“Samuel Eto’o has been a first class football player…but being a world class football player and being an competent administrator that know how to manage people, that understands the intricacies of the game… it’s not easy.”
– Osasu Obayiuwana, journalist
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion