CAF president Motsepe’s future in doubt as no-confidence move considered amid Infantino rift

Patrice Motsepe’s position as president of the Confederation africaine de football (CAF) is under growing threat, with senior officials again discussing a motion of no confidence and suggestions he no longer enjoys the firm backing of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Motsepe was re-elected in March 2025 for a second four-year term, but an investigation by Sport News Africa says influential figures within CAF now doubt he will see out his mandate. Several members of the CAF Executive Committee are reported to be actively exploring steps that could lead to his removal.

According to the same report, a number of Executive Committee members accuse the South African of lacking a detailed grasp of CAF’s day-to-day operations and complain that meetings under his leadership have often been excessively long and unfocused. Some federation presidents are also said to have been annoyed that Motsepe occasionally referred to them by the name of their country rather than by their own names, suggesting he struggled to remember who they were.

Authority questioned after recent controversies

Motsepe’s authority within CAF is described as having been weakened by several recent episodes. During a press conference, he publicly floated the idea of expanding the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2027) to 28 teams, only for CAF to later issue an official denial of any such plan.

His repeated insistence that CAN 2027 will go ahead as scheduled in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has also raised concern among some officials, with two of the three co-host nations reported to be significantly behind in their preparations for the tournament.

These issues have contributed to a perception among critics that Motsepe is increasingly out of step with both the practical demands of tournament organisation and the consensus within CAF’s leadership.

Reported loss of Infantino’s backing

Sport News Africa further claims that Motsepe has lost a key pillar of support in Infantino, following an agreement that allowed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate at the UEFA Super Cup.

Infantino is said to have interpreted that arrangement as a sign that Motsepe was moving closer to UEFA’s orbit in a way that could be seen as undermining FIFA’s authority. The fallout has reportedly strained relations between the two presidents.

Another long-time ally, Moroccan Football Federation chief Fouzi Lekjaa, is also described as having distanced himself from Motsepe in the wake of controversy surrounding the final of CAN 2025. While Lekjaa had previously been one of Motsepe’s most vigorous defenders within CAF, that backing is now believed to be more cautious.

No-confidence plan could return to agenda

A motion of no confidence against Motsepe had already been floated in recent months but did not advance, largely because of Infantino’s support for the CAF president at the time. With that support now said to be in question, the idea of formally challenging Motsepe’s leadership is being revived by his opponents.

The proposal could resurface at the next meeting of the CAF Executive Committee. Any move would then require approval at a CAF General Assembly if it were to lead to Motsepe’s removal from office.

Behind the scenes, several senior officials are reported to have begun sketching out plans for a post-Motsepe era, mindful that the 62-year-old has already publicly ruled out seeking a third term. Speculation over succession has intensified as doubts about his immediate future grow.

Succession talk and regional support

Names said to be gaining traction as potential successors include Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania, Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti and Idriss Diallo of Cote d’Ivoire. All three are understood to be sounding out support across different regional blocs, though no formal candidacies have been declared.

Despite the mounting criticism, Motsepe is not without support. He is believed to retain a solid base among federations in southern Africa and enjoys backing from parts of West Africa, which could yet complicate any attempt to unseat him before the end of his current term.

Even so, his leadership is viewed as more fragile than at any point since he took office in 2021. Alongside the internal manoeuvring within CAF, suggestions that Motsepe may harbour broader political ambitions in South Africa are also fuelling speculation over how long he will remain at the helm of African football’s governing body.