Its officially campaign season and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been swamped with a beehive of activities. First and foremost, South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe may not have it easy this time round, as the rumour mill has been rife with speculation on prospective opponents.
Motsepe is accused of having achieved nothing during his tenure despite the promise of a financial windfall and an avalanche of corporate endorsements due to his profile as a Forbes Billionaire. His opponents accuse him of conceding the CAF presidency to Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, giving him a free hand to run the organisation, and sacrificing his own political standing.
In a free and fair process, the only votes that Motsepe would be guaranteed are from his home country South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Tanzania and Kenya. FA Presidents from these nations are soon-to-be “Motsepe Orphans” a phrase coined to denote financial loss and emotional trauma endured by hitherto sycophantic supporters of a particular god-father.
We analyse the changing dynamics and shifting allegiances in the run-up to the March 2025 elections.
Samuel Eto’o
Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o has thrown his hat into the ring and declared his intention of unseating Patrice Motsepe as CAF President. Indeed, CAF had last month sought to investigate Eto’o over misconduct, a move that many saw as a pre-emptive strike to his political ambitions which may be at cross-paths with the powers that be.
Eto’o seems to have aligned with Niger FA President Hamidou Djibrilla together with former CAF Presidents Ahmad Ahmad and Constant Omari.
Veron Mosengo-Omba
With an absentee CAF President, Veron has taken charge of CAF with many citing his hidden ambition to be CAF President in the distant future. Infact the selection of Kinshasa to be the host city of next month’s CAF congress was viewed by many as a show of might and proof of government backing in the event that he launches a bid for the seat.
Ofcourse FIFA President Gianni Infantino would have to sanction such a move.
Hany Abourida
Gaffe-prone and scandal-ridden Hany Aborida is the surprise entrant to the race for the CAF Presidency with reports suggesting that the proposed move to shift the CAF Congress from Kinshasa to Cairo next month, is set to favour his candidacy as a suspicious amendment to the CAF statutes is already in the offing.
Comoros FA President Said Athouman is alleged to have been paid by Hany Abourida to front a motion seeking to scrap the age limit. Set at 70 years, an outcome which will benefit Hany Abourida who is currently 71 years and technically ineligible for the position.
Comoros FA President Said Athouman with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
While the proposed amendment is generating a lot of heat, its the seconders who have signalled the hidden hand of Gianni Infantino in pushing for that amendment beginning with Mauritania FA President Ahmad Yahya, who is considered as Gianni Infantino’s spy in the CAF Executive Committee.
Fouzi Lekjaa
Morocco FA President Fouzi Lekjaa has not declared any intent of running for the CAF Presidency but a constellation of factors may push his government into fronting his bid. Observers say that the fact that Morocco will be co-hosting the FIFA WorldCup in 2030 may be a motivating factor.
Secondly, the announcement of Hany Aborida’s candidacy was broken by an Algerian news outlet and this may further trigger Moroccan authorities to undermine Hany Aborida’s presidential bid.
