CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe has confirmed he will not seek a third term in charge of African football, setting a clear end date to his tenure when his current mandate expires in 2029.
The South African billionaire’s announcement ends uncertainty over his long‐term future at the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and immediately shifts focus to the race to succeed him at the helm of the continent’s governing body.
Under CAF statutes, Motsepe would have been eligible to stand again, having first taken office in 2021 before being granted a second term. But he has decided to cap his time in charge at two mandates, effectively framing his presidency as an eight‐year reform project rather than an open‐ended reign.
Reformist tenure enters final phase
Motsepe assumed control of CAF in March 2021, succeeding Ahmad Ahmad at a time of institutional turbulence and financial strain for the organisation.
Since then, his administration has pushed through a series of changes designed to stabilise CAF’s finances and elevate African football’s global standing. Key measures have included:
– Significant rises in prize money for CAF tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
– Increased investment in youth development and academies
– Expanded coaching and technical training programmes
– Support for infrastructure projects across the 54 member associations
Throughout his tenure, the mining magnate has framed these reforms around a single guiding ambition: to make African football consistently competitive on the world stage and to close the gap with Europe and South America.
World Cup progress fuels belief
Motsepe has repeatedly argued that, with sustained investment and better organisation, African national teams can challenge for the sport’s biggest prize.
He has “consistently outlined his ambition of making African football more competitive globally” and has often stated his belief that an African side can eventually win the FIFA World Cup.
That conviction has been bolstered by recent results at the expanded 2026 World Cup, where African teams collectively recorded their best performance. Nine of the continent’s 10 representatives advanced from the group phase, providing tangible evidence of the progress Motsepe says CAF has been working towards.
Legacy beyond 2029
Motsepe has made clear he expects the trajectory of African football to continue rising after he leaves office. He believes the reforms initiated during his administration must be embedded so that future CAF leadership maintains a focus on governance, development and competitiveness.
With four years remaining in his presidency, he is expected to use the rest of his term to consolidate recent changes, strengthen CAF’s internal structures and secure long‐term funding and development frameworks for member nations.
Officials within African football say the emphasis over this period is likely to be on ensuring that prize money increases, development grants and infrastructure investments are sustainable beyond his departure.
Attention turns to CAF succession battle
With Motsepe ruling out a third term, attention is already turning to potential successors and the political manoeuvring that will shape CAF’s 2029 presidential election.
Regional power blocs within African football are expected to play a critical role in determining the next leader, with candidates likely to emerge from among current federation heads and senior CAF executives.
Whoever replaces Motsepe will inherit an organisation that has undergone significant transformation and operates under higher expectations from fans, players and governments across the continent.
If he steps down as planned in 2029, Motsepe will leave having served two terms and presided over a period of substantial change, during which CAF sought to reposition African football as a stronger competitor on the global stage. His decision not to prolong his stay in office sets a defined horizon for that project – and opens a new chapter in the battle to shape the future of the African game.
