Patrice Motsepe has secured a second term as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after running unopposed in the organization’s elections held in Cairo on March 12, 2025. The South African businessman, who first took office in 2021, will continue to lead CAF for another four years with strong backing from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In a major development, Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick failed to retain his seat on the FIFA Council, effectively ending Nigeria’s direct representation in the global football body’s decision-making process. Pinnick, a former CAF Vice President and ex-President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), had played a significant role in FIFA’s affairs, making his exit a notable shift in African football politics.
Additionally, Cameroon football icon Samuel Eto’o secured a position on the CAF Executive Committee after successfully appealing his earlier disqualification. Eto’o, who leads the Cameroon Football Federation, was initially barred over alleged regulatory issues but was later cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), allowing him to contest and win unopposed.
The CAF congress also confirmed the unchallenged election of five other officials from Liberia, DR Congo, Tanzania, Ghana, and Algeria to the Executive Committee.
With Motsepe’s re-election ensuring continuity in CAF’s leadership, the loss of Pinnick’s FIFA Council seat raises concerns about Nigeria’s diminishing influence in global football governance.
