South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe was on Friday elected unopposed as the new president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for a four-year term.
The 58-year-old, who is also the owner of 2016 African Champions Mamelodi Sundowns, succeeds Ahmad Ahmad after three challengers withdrew from the CAF’s top seat.
Motsepe becomes the seventh head to occupy the position of CAF President after the polls in the 43rd CAF General Assembly meeting held in Morocco.
His rivals- Augustin Senghor, Ahmed Yahya and Jacques Anouma agreed to step aside from the race five days ago following an agreement that was secured by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during an African tour, where he met with the four candidates.
In his victory speech, Motsepe asked for unity in solving the problems that confront African football and assured delegates that he will use his new position to take the continent’s football to new heights.
“It’s a huge honour and a huge privilege for me, we can only deal with the challenges of Africa. We will succeed when we are united. The leadership we have in Africa, it is that leadership that gives me confidence and that inspires me and I’m absolutely confident, working together we will indeed succeed to make African football to be amongst the best in the world,” said Motsepe.
The outgoing-president Ahmad was banned from football for five years by FIFA following a corruption scandal and though he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the verdict earlier this week reduced his sentence to two years
“I’ve just been asked to express my gratitude very quickly let me start by saying it’s a huge honour and a huge privilege for me. We spent the morning hearing the challenges that confront African football but let me just thank my brother Gianni for the vision and the encouragement of unity. We can only deal with the challenges of Africa and we will succeed,” added Motsepe.
In his 10-point plan that underpins his Election Manifesto, it is clear that he not only intends to hit the ground running but also constitutes a commitment to all continental Football in general and women’s Football in particular, to be the centerpiece of his term as President.
Motsepe has already confirmed that his son, Thlopane, will take over as the Sundowns chairman, with the support of his wife, Dr Precious Motsepe.
