Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe is facing growing pressure over his leadership following a controversial reversal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduling policy, with Cameroon football chief Samuel Eto’o and other potential contenders reportedly positioning themselves for a possible succession.

In a report published by The Guardian of the UK, sources within African football are said to have expressed declining confidence in CAF’s leadership after Motsepe announced a return to the biennial AFCON cycle, just 10 months after the decision was taken to move the tournament to a four-year schedule.

The proposed reversal is expected to be considered at CAF’s executive committee meeting in Abidjan next month. Although the return to a two-year cycle reportedly enjoys broad support among African football officials, the manner in which the change was announced has raised questions about consultation and decision-making within the continental governing body.

According to The Guardian, several national association presidents were unaware of Motsepe’s intention to announce the proposed change until the issue was raised at a strategic conference in Cape Verde last week.

The South African billionaire also reportedly confirmed that he would not seek a third term when his current tenure expires in 2029. At the same meeting, he pledged Africa’s “unconditional support” for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid in March, claiming to speak on behalf of all 54 CAF member associations.

However, The Guardian reported that potential successors to Motsepe are seeking to establish their positions, with Infantino’s backing potentially playing a decisive role in any leadership transition.

Among those reportedly being considered are Eto’o, the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker who heads the Cameroon Football Federation and sits on CAF’s executive committee; Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania; Yacine Idriss Diallo of Côte d’Ivoire; and Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti, a FIFA Council member who has been charged with embezzlement and money laundering. Waberi has denied the allegations. Other potential contenders could emerge from southern Africa.

The Guardian reported that Motsepe’s future could depend partly on his relationship with Infantino, whose support remains influential across African football.

An alternative route to challenging the incumbent would be through CAF’s statutory procedures, which allow an extraordinary general assembly to be convened following a written request from at least two-thirds of the executive committee members.

Relations between Motsepe and Infantino were reportedly strained after Motsepe allowed Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been denied entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, to officiate in UEFA’s Super Cup final in August amid tensions involving European football’s governing body. Sources cited by The Guardian, however, indicated that relations between the two men had improved in recent weeks as Infantino sought to consolidate support in Africa.

Motsepe has also announced financial incentives for African associations. According to The Guardian, he promised annual CAF distributions of approximately $700,000 to each member association, an increase of $500,000. Payments to executive committee members for attending meetings were also reportedly increased from $150 to $350, alongside the introduction of an annual bonus of about $8,000.

These commitments come amid concerns about CAF’s financial outlook, particularly as its broadcast agreement with IMG is due to expire after the 2027 AFCON.

The staging of that tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has also generated uncertainty, with questions over the three East African countries’ readiness to host the competition in June and July 2027. The Guardian reported that some sources believe the tournament could be postponed until the Christmas and New Year period, a move that would disrupt the European club football calendar.

CAF is understood to have received broadcast proposals from IMG and another unnamed company for future competitions. However, the commercial implications of restoring the biennial AFCON schedule remain unclear, including how the rights package would be structured.

A CAF spokesperson told The Guardian that the process was still ongoing and that no broadcast rights had been awarded.

With the AFCON scheduling reversal, financial commitments and succession speculation converging, Motsepe faces a period of heightened scrutiny as CAF approaches key decisions on the future of its flagship competition and the leadership of African football.

 

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