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Why these controversies within CAF?
CAN-2025
When we talk about the organization of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will ultimately take place in 2026 in Morocco on dates that are controversial, we are talking about what is causing a lively controversy within African football. The president of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, is caught in a sirocco of criticism.
African media are reporting an accusation that puts Motsepe in the crosshairs for sacrificing Africa’s interests for his personal ambitions, including serious allegations of interference by FIFA under Gianni’s leadership. Infantino. According to the iGEMA newspaper in Dakar, Motsepe would have allowed FIFA to interfere a little more in the affairs of CAF, thus compromising the autonomy and sovereignty of African football. Major competitions such as the CAN and the African Women’s Cup of Nations are particularly affected, losing their independence to the benefit of external interests, like the CAN 2025, postponed specially to allow the organization of the Club World Cup in summer 2025.
Motsepe is far from being
a weak person
The former South African Football Association official, who knows Motsepe well, expressed his astonishment at the situation. According to him, Motsepe is far from being a weak person and has always shown an unwavering determination to get what he wants. But he believes that Gianni Infantino’s support for Motsepe’s election has created a kind of moral debt, making Motsepe reluctant to defy FIFA, even when it harms African interests.
FIFA interference in African football?
Renowned journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana, according to Afrika Foot newspaper recently shared a revealing post on social media, highlighting that the issue is not Catholic. “On Saturday, I had a conversation with a former senior official of the South African Football Federation who has already had interactions with CAF President Patrice Motsepe. I asked him why Motsepe is capitulating to FIFA’s interference in African football, giving the impression that he is weak and lacks leadership character,” he first explained, before sharing his interlocutor’s response.
Motsepe is not a weak person
“It may simply be that Motsepe who rose to this position with the involvement of Gianni Infantino, is quite happy with the terms of the deal he struck with those who brought him to the presidency and therefore sees no reason to oppose the deal that was made to get him there, because it suits him…Africa is paying an unbearable price for the Faustian pact he apparently struck. It has lost its right to control its own future and competitions, such as the AFCON and the Women’s AFCON. Without strong leadership that can defend the interests of African football against external attacks, the future of football on the continent is truly bleak.”
In summary
British journalist of Nigerian origin, Osasu Obayiuwana, according to Le Fennec newspaper on his official “X” account, he described the current situation of Motsepe’s CAF as shameful, highlighting its dependence on FIFA and its inability to organize events. major African competitions, notably CAN-2025 in Morocco. “CAF is in a deplorable situation, unable to organize the 2024 African Women’s Cup of Nations and the 2025 CAN in Morocco,” he published. He questioned the disastrous management of major African competitions under the influence of FIFA. Obayiuwana also promised to reveal more about Motsepe’s remarks to CAF delegates in Thailand, promising further revelations soon. CAF faces an impasse regarding the holding of the CAN-2025 finals in Morocco, initially scheduled between July and August 2025, but potentially postponed to January 2026 due to organizational problems.
Synthesis by H. Hichem