The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is poised to unveil a new set of Vice-Presidents during its Executive Committee meeting in the Ghanaian capital of Accra today following widespread changes triggered by last month’s elections and the fallout that followed, AfricaSoccer.com can exclusively reveal.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe will oversee the appointment of five new Vice-Presidents today in the first meeting since last month’s elections, a move designed to address deepening tensions within the organisation after Morocco-backed candidates secured sweeping victories in the FIFA Council elections.
The changes are expected to be confirmed today during a CAF Executive Committee meeting in Ghana.
The shake-up has become necessary after four of CAF’s previous Vice-Presidents either resigned or moved into FIFA Council positions, leaving a leadership vacuum.
First Vice-President Augustin Senghor resigned in protest, criticising what he described as Morocco’s growing capture of African football politics. Meanwhile, Ahmed Yahya, Waberi Souleiman and Kanizat Ibrahim all secured seats on FIFA’s powerful governing body, automatically vacating their CAF roles.
Seydou Mbombo Njoya, previously Fourth Vice-President, also exited after being dropped by his home federation in Cameroon.
In response, Motsepe has pencilled down ten candidates to fill the leadership void. The names under consideration include Kurt Okraku (Ghana), Mustapha Ishola Raji (Liberia), Kossi Gbezonde Akpovy (Togo), Isayas Jira Bosho (Ethiopia), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Mohamed Samir Sobha (Mauritius), Walter Nyamilandu Manda (Malawi), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon), and Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (DR Congo, for the women’s quota). There is likely to be one from North Africa.
Motsepe’s selections appear aimed at restoring balance across CAF’s regional blocks — WAFU, CECAFA, COSAFA, and UNIFAC — and addressing concerns of marginalisation voiced by Anglophone and Francophone federations.
The elections last month exposed sharp fault lines within African football’s political landscape. Traditional heavyweights like Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal failed to secure FIFA Council seats, leading to fears that decision-making power had become concentrated among North African and Morocco-aligned figures.
The anger was most visibly expressed through Senghor’s resignation, which highlighted the extent of dissatisfaction among several influential member associations.
By appointing Vice-Presidents from a broad cross-section of the continent, Motsepe hopes to reassure disillusioned federations and present a more inclusive image of CAF’s leadership. His balancing act is seen as crucial to preserving unity within the organisation at a time when internal cohesion is vital for African football’s global ambitions.
The new appointments are also a pivotal opportunity for Motsepe to reaffirm his leadership credibility after a turbulent election period and to steer CAF through a delicate political period.
But challenges remain. Whether the new Vice-Presidents can bridge the emerging divides and re-energise CAF’s development agenda will be watched closely in the months ahead.
For now, all eyes are on Ghana, where CAF’s new leadership chapter will officially begin.
