Motsepe re-elected unopposed as African confederation president
CAIRO: Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected as president of the African football confederation, extending his leadership of the continent’s footballing body until 2029.
The announcement was made during CAF’s extraordinary general assembly held at the foot of the iconic Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt – a symbolic location for a meeting focused on the future of African football.
Egyptian FA president and CAF exco candidate Hany Abou Rida delivered a speech warmly welcoming delegates and prominent figures, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Motsepe, alongside representatives from all 54 African member nations.
He said: “Egypt is proud of its African identity and honours its role as the long-standing home of CAF since 1957. We’ve always extended love, respect, and support to our African brothers, and we continue to do so with full dedication.”
He highlighted Egypt’s historic and modern ties with the continent, calling Africa the “continent of talent” that has, in recent decades, broken free from external dependencies and embraced a collective renaissance through unity and shared ambition.
Abou Rida took the opportunity to propose that Egypt be granted the right to host one of the groups in the 2034 FIFA World Cup, coinciding with the centenary of its first participation in the tournament in 1934.
He said: “Our passionate football fans understand the love Africa holds for them. We trust that our brothers in Saudi Arabia, who have earned the honour of hosting the 2034 edition, will welcome this idea with open arms given the historic relationship between our nations.”
He expressed hope that FIFA President Infantino would inaugurate the group matches hosted on Egyptian soil.
Abou Rida also applauded Infantino’s continued commitment to Africa, citing his efforts over the past nine years to ensure the continent has a real stake in global football progress.
He commended Infantino’s decision to involve Latin America in the centennial 2030 World Cup by awarding Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay the chance to host matches. He also celebrated Morocco’s successful bid to co-host the 2030 tournament alongside Spain and Portugal, noting that: “Morocco is more than capable of delivering an exceptional tournament. Egypt was also among the earliest supporters of the World Cup, having been invited to the original 1930 edition and proudly becoming Africa’s first representative at the 1934 tournament in Italy.”
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