CAF president Patrice Motsepe under pressure as Samuel Etoo emerges as possible successor

Patrice Motsepe is facing growing pressure as confidence in his leadership of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) declines, with Samuel Eto’o among those monitoring the possibility of succeeding him.

CAF’s executive committee is expected to confirm at a meeting in Abidjan next month that the Africa Cup of Nations will return to a two-year cycle. Motsepe announced the reversal last week, just 10 months after the decision to stage the tournament every four years.

The proposed change has widespread support across Africa, but The Guardian reported that some officials are increasingly concerned about Motsepe’s management. Most national association presidents were reportedly unaware that he intended to announce the change before it was raised at a strategic conference in Cape Verde last week.

Motsepe has said he will not seek a third term when his current tenure ends in 2029. He has also given his unconditional backing to Gianni Infantino’s re-election as Fifa president in March, saying the support would come on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations.

Infantino remains highly popular in Africa, although reports suggest between 10 and 15 member associations could consider voting against him.

Some potential CAF presidential candidates are understood to be seeking Infantino’s support in case Motsepe leaves office before the end of his term. The names being discussed include Eto’o, the former Barcelona and Inter striker who is president of the Cameroon Football Federation and a member of the CAF executive committee.

Other possible candidates are Ahmed Ould Yahya, president of the Mauritania Football Federation; Yassine Idriss Diallo, president of the Ivorian Football Federation; and Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti, a Fifa Council member who faces allegations of embezzlement and money laundering. Waberi denies any wrongdoing. Further candidates could emerge from southern Africa.

Sources believe Infantino could have a decisive influence over Motsepe’s future. CAF regulations allow an extraordinary general assembly to be called if at least two-thirds of the executive committee submits a written request.

Relations between Infantino and Motsepe had previously been strained. In August, Motsepe allowed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate in the UEFA Super Cup after Artan had been refused entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup. The decision came amid growing disagreements with UEFA.

However, Guardian sources say the relationship between the two men has improved in recent weeks as Infantino seeks to strengthen African support ahead of the Fifa presidential election.

Motsepe has pledged to give each CAF member association about $700,000 per year, an increase of $500,000 on previous allocations. The commitment comes amid growing concerns about CAF’s finances, with its current television rights contract due to expire after the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

There are also doubts over whether Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will be ready to host the 2027 tournament in June and July. Some sources believe it could be moved to the Christmas and New Year period, potentially causing major disruption to the European club calendar.

CAF has received television rights offers from two unnamed companies, but no agreement has been completed. The commercial impact of returning to a two-year Africa Cup of Nations cycle also remains unclear.

A CAF spokesperson said negotiations over the broadcasting rights were ongoing and that the rights had not yet been awarded to any organisation.