African football took a commendable stride over the weekend with the unanimous election of South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe as CAF President by acclamation during the 43rd CAF Congress, which took place in Rabat, Morocco. His election by acclamation followed sustained lobbying by key sports groups across the continent on the need to move football forward and help Africa catchup with other regions. The choice of Mr Motsepe came as a result of efforts aimed at sanitizing the organization and bringing in hands-on skills in sports business to be part of the management of CAF. He is expected to not only lead a revised African confederation, but an organisation that will see substantial change at CAF Executive Committee and FIFA Council level following various elections which have also been held.
The event equally saw the election of Mathurin de Chacus (Benin), Isha Johansen (Sierra Leone), Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), Amaju Pinnick (Nigeria) and Mamoutou Touré (Mali) will all join Hany Abo Rida (Egypt) on FIFA’s Council, while Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros) and Mbombo Njoya (Cameroon) to the CAF Executive Committee. Other regional appointments were also made with Wadie Jary (Tunisia) elected to the northern zone and Elvis Raja Chetty (Seychelles) and Maclean Letshwiti (Botswana) both elected to represent the southern zone.
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“Africa needs collective wisdom, but also the exceptional talent and work of every (national football association) president and every member nation,” new CAF President Patrice Motsepe said. “When we all work together, football in Africa will experience success and growth that it has not enjoyed in the past.”
It is a position fully endorsed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who also took the opportunity to congratulate all the presidential election candidates on their collective vision and team spirit.
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“I would like to congratulate Patrice Motsepe for his wisdom, his engagement, for his passion,” the FIFA President said. “I want to wish all the very best for the next four years, to the new leading team of CAF, of African football, and to Patrice Motsepe, to all those who have been involved, to Augustin Senghor, Ahmed Yahya, Jacques Anouma, who will now have important roles in CAF’s administration. You all want a strong and united Africa, projecting itself forward. It is thanks to you, it is your decision, your wish, your hope and your ambition. I want to assure you that FIFA is not at your side, FIFA is together with you.”
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry