Motsepe rules out third term as CAF boss, says he has no interest in Infantino’s job
July 24 – In a rambling and often disconnected press conference, CAF president Patrice Motsepe said that he would only serve two terms as CAF president and that he had no interest in the FIFA presidency.
Motsepe was first elected in 2021 and was re-elected in 2025. His current term will finish in 2029.
“I love FIFA. Huge. Enormous contribution that FIFA does. But I have no desire or ambition to be president of FIFA. It doesn’t excite me,” Motsepe said, squashing rumours (albeit unconfirmed) that he might have a run at the top job against under fire incumbent Gianni Infantino.
“It’s not going to happen and we took a decision to support, and I personally support Infantino. He’s not just a good friend, he’s a loyal friend. He’s loyal to Africa,” Motsepe said. “And again, I come from a different background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back, you never do that.”
While Motsepe is sticking by his statement that Africa supports Infantino and FIFA’s interventions in the running of the continent’s football, there are growing signs that his own support and that for Infantino is starting to fracture on the continent, with as many as 20 federations privately saying they would welcome a challenge to both leaders.
Perhaps inadvertently referring to FIFA’s iron grip over African football – its competition calendar, commercial proposition and national federations – Motsepe continued: “And as I said, to help in Africa FIFA doesn’t need me. So nobody is going to be able to persuade me to change my views on these things (in particular Infantino’s FIFA leadership) because there are other people who are very good and who are doing a good job.”
Dismissing speculation that he would run for a third term as CAF president in 2029, he said: “There are certain things you should never be persuaded about and no-one is going to persuade me to serve more than two terms in CAF.”
Seperately and in a more structured press statement Motsepe praised the performance of African nations this summer at the World Cup, saying it marked significant progress towards eventually winning it. “We remain confident that an African nation will be Champions of the FIFA World Cup.” “Significant progress and successes were achieved by the African national teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and I am very proud of their performances. The nine African National Teams that qualified from the Group Stage to the Round of 32 made history at the FIFA World Cup 2026, as this is 90% of the African National Teams that participated, and is the highest percentage to qualify to date.
“The previous percentages of the African National Teams to qualify to the Knockout Stage were; 40% in 2022, none in 2018 and 40% in 2014.”
Motsepe said CAF had “also identified specific areas where there is room for improvement and I am confident that the coaches, technical teams and players will implement the necessary improvements… CAF will be hosting a conference and will invite the National Team coaches, technical teams, former African National team players and other football experts and stakeholders to evaluate and assess the performances of the African National Teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the objective of making recommendations that will ensure that the African National Teams will be even more successful at the FIFA World Cup 2030.”
He also emphasised that CAF is investing in player development and will continue to do so. “We will continue to train and invest in our boys and girls football players, amateur football, professional Football Leagues and our National Teams in each of the 54 African countries to make African football globally competitive,” he continued.
“CAF is increasing its funding for the training of coaches at all levels and will be conducting numerous coaching training courses in each of the 6 CAF Regions or Zones on the African Continent. CAF is also focusing on increasing the quality and competitiveness of the CAF African Schools Football Championship as this is an important platform and initiative for the development and growth of African Youth Football.”
He also emphasised the need for government and private sector support in Africa to build and improve facilities.
“Every National Team and Football Club must play its matches in their country and in front of their local supporters and fans. It is essential that in each of our 54 Member Association Countries there is a stadium that is at the requisite CAF and FIFA level.”
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