COSAFA To Back Patrice Motsepe In CAF Presidential Race

Southern Africa regional block COSAFA has thrown its weight behind South Africa’s billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s candidature for CAF president in the March 12 polls.

The decision, deemed far-reaching, was arrived yesterday during COSAFA’s virtual meeting attended by FA Presidents.

Rabat, Morocco will host the next CAF presidential elections and a statement released on Thursday indicates that all member states endorsed Motsepe’s candidature.

“At a meeting of COSAFA Executive Committee on 27 January 2021, it was unanimously resolved that Dr Patrice Motsepe is the only candidate endorsed by the 14-member regional body to run for the CAF Presidency in March this year,” reads COSAFA’s statement.

“The COSAFA Executive reiterated a decision taken in 2017 that the Zone should always support one of its own, in this case, Dr Motsepe.

‘In 2017, COSAFA was the first bloc to endorse eventual winner Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar.

“The Executive has now resolved that Member Associates will back Dr Motsepe for the CAF Presidency.”

Motsepe, who owns Mamelodi Sundowns, was cleared by FIFA to stand for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) removing doubts over his candidature after CAF cast a shadow over his ambition for the top seat.

“We are confident that once we take a unanimous decision to back one of our own, other members who want real change in CAF will join the winning party. In Dr Motsepe we have a candidate who will usher in a new era for African football,” said COSAFA President, Phillip Chiyangwa.

Nigeria, Rwanda and Sierra Leone have already endorsed Motsepe’s candidature and South Africa Football Association is currently persuading other nations outside COSAFA region to back their candidate.