Motsepe to become CAF president as Ahmad loses appeal
BY Remi Sulola
Patrice Motsepe, South Africa’s billionaire, has been elected as the president of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF).
Motsepe, who is Africa’s ninth richest person, was elected president of the continental football body during the organisation’s 43rd ordinary general assembly in Rabat, Morocco on Friday.
The 53-year-old owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, South African football team, was elected unopposed, becoming the first English-speaking president of the continental football body.
He is expected to replace Ahmad Ahmad, who became the first CAF president to be banned by FIFA for five years, but recently had the suspension cut to two years after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The 60-year-old Malagasy was banned by FIFA over financial misappropriation in November 2020.
Born on January 28, 1962, Motsepe started his working life as a lawyer before switching to mining. He has since then been involved in a plethora of businesses.
Unlike previous African football leaders, who came from national association backgrounds, Motsepe’s connection with the sport stems from owning Malamelodi Sundowns, a record 2016 African Champions League winner.
Forbes magazine estimates his personal wealth at $2.9 billion (2.4 billion euros).
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