CAF’s Motsepe to proceed development of uncontested presidential re-elections

March 11 – South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe (pictured) will run unopposed to safe a second four-year time period as African soccer boss on the Extraordinary Basic Meeting of the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) on Wednesday.  

For a very long time, Motsepe remained non-committal in the direction of a brand new time period, however in October he confirmed that he would search a second time period “following requests from quite a few CAF member affiliation presidents, zonal union presidents and key stakeholders”, thus confirming the development of uncontested presidential re-elections at main soccer governing our bodies.  

In 2021 the mining magnate succeeded Ahmad Ahmad, who had been banned for corruption, to turn out to be CAF president with the backing of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Different candidates – Augustin Senghor (Senegal), Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) and Ivorian Jacques Anouma – withdrew from the race in return for government or advisory roles. 

The CAF has struggled financially beneath Motsepe after the cancellation of a $1billion contract with Lagardère, however the South African has been upbeat concerning the organisation’s funds, confirming the settlement of $50million to the advertising firm and a revenue of $72m from the final Africa Cup of Nations within the Ivory Coast.  

Final 12 months the African governing physique additionally doubled growth cash for the member associations from $10.8m to $21.6m. The 54 members will obtain $400,000 on an annual foundation, however a sizeable chunk – $50,000 – will probably be reserved for the FA presidents after the membership voted by means of a pay rise for prime executives. 

On Wednesday, CAF may also elect new members of its Govt Committee in addition to the continent’s representatives on the FIFA Council. The FIFA Council serves as Zurich’s highest decision-making physique however is beneath the agency management of Infantino. A seat comes with a compensation of $250,000. 

CAF didn’t disclose an official checklist of candidates, however Hany Abou Rida (Egypt), Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), Amaju Pinnick (Nigeria), Yahya, Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti), Idriss Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire), Mathurin de Chacus (Benin), Senghor), Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (Niger) and Andrew Kamanga (Zambia) are vying for 5 seats on the FIFA Council.   

Waberi and Kamanga are beneath investigation at residence, whereas present FIFA Council member Mamatou Touré (Mali) has introduced he won’t stand for re-election. He’s in jail at residence.  

One seat has been reserved for Africa’s feminine consultant on the FIFA Council. The candidates are Isha Johansen (Sierra Leone), Lydia Nsekera (Burundi) and Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros).  

Johansen has been a longstanding powerbroker within the sport; Nsekera is a member of the IOC, served as a FIFA Council member from 2012 till 2021 and is the deputy chairwoman of FIFA’s growth committee; and Ibrahim serves as CAF’s fifth vice-president. 

In the meantime, the CAF Govt Committee elections are decided by geography. The candidates are Samuel Eto’o (UNIFFAC, unchallenged); Sadhi Walid (UNAF, unchallenged); Mustapha Ishola Raji (WAFU A, unchallenged); Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku (WAFU B, unchallenged); Elvis Chetty (COSAFA); Alfred Randriamanampisoa (COSAFA), Mohamed Ally Samir (COSAFA) and Feizal Ismael Sidat (COSAFA). Bestine Kazadi, of DR Congo, will stand for the feminine seat.   

Eto’o is a controversial candidate. Final week the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport cleared the Fecafoot boss and former Barcelona legend to face within the elections.  

Infantino is anticipated to attend the meeting. 

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