CAF media chief hits out at UK journalist over Motsepe popularity claims

A senior Confederation of African Football (CAF) media official has publicly dismissed reporting by a UK-based journalist that claims Patrice Motsepe’s leadership of the organisation is under growing pressure.

Luxolo September, who is CAF’s media chief, responded on X on Wednesday to a post by journalist Ed Aarons. Aarons had written that officials from across Africa were warning they had lost trust in the CAF president, and that rivals, including Samuel Eto’o, were positioning themselves to potentially replace him.

Responding to the report, September questioned the credibility of the claims, accusing sections of the media of fabricating stories.

“You guys just make up stuff,” September wrote, accompanying his post with several laughing emojis.

He added: “Anyway. Free world. Free press. Free to make up stuff.”

The CAF media chief’s response, published at 15:50 GMT on October 14, came approximately 20 hours after Aarons shared his original post, which linked to a longer report on the growing pressure surrounding Motsepe’s leadership.

However, September did not specifically identify which aspects of the report he considered inaccurate, nor did he provide evidence to counter the claims regarding the CAF president’s standing among member associations.

https://x.com/Lux_September/status/2110352469301608523

The exchange highlights the growing public disagreement between CAF officials and sections of the international media over reporting on the organisation’s leadership and internal dynamics.

Motsepe became CAF president in March 2021, succeeding Ahmad Ahmad, and secured a second term in March 2025 after emerging as the sole candidate in the election.

Eto’o, meanwhile, remains president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), a position he has held since December 2021. The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker has previously been mentioned in discussions surrounding the future leadership of African football.

While September’s response firmly rejected the tone of Aarons’ reporting, it did not provide further details about the level of support Motsepe currently enjoys among CAF’s 54 member associations.

CAF had not issued a formal statement addressing the specific claims at the time of writing.