The organization of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (CAN), which will finally take place in 2026 in Morocco on dates considered inappropriate, is causing intense controversy within African football. The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, is at the heart of the criticism. Accused of sacrificing Africa’s interests for his personal ambitions, Motsepe faces serious allegations of FIFA interference under the leadership of Gianni Infantino.
Renowned journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana, recently shared a revealing post on social media, highlighting this issue. “On Saturday, I had a conversation with a former senior official of the South African Football Association who has previously had interactions with CAF President Patrice Motsepe. I asked him why Motsepe capitulates 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: “I am quite perplexed by the way FIFA is interfering in the CAF he runs, because the Motsepe I know is not a weak person. When he is unhappy with a situation that he wants to change, he can be very determined to get what he wants. I saw it myself. He didn’t get to where he is in life by being weak.”
“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 made with those who brought him to the presidency and does not see therefore no reason to oppose the agreement which was made to lead him there, because it suits him”, he also stressed.
Our colleague Nigerianwho works in particular for The Guardianthen analyzed things this way: “I am convinced by this argument, because Motsepe is not a fool, contrary to what many people say. But Africa is paying an unbearable price for the Faustian pact it apparently made. She lost her right to control her own future and her competitions, such as the CAN and the Women’s CAN. Without strong leadership capable of defending the interests of African football against external attacks, the future of football on the continent is truly bleak.”
Motsepe is therefore accused of having made a “Faustian pact”, an expression that refers to the idea of selling one’s soul to the devil in exchange for power or success. In this context, Motsepe is accused of having given in to the demands of FIFA and Gianni Infantino to obtain the presidency of CAF, to the detriment of the interests of African football.
A loss of autonomy for Africa
The main criticism is that Motsepe has allowed FIFA to interfere even more in CAF affairs, thereby 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 especially to allow the organization of the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025.
The former SAFA (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.
