Patrice Motsepe - The African Mirror

Nov

2022

Can an African team win the World Cup? New football study crunches the numbers

MANY football lovers hope an African team will finally win the men’s 2022 Fifa World Cup. The world has been waiting for this since the great Brazilian player Pelé predicted (in the 1970s) that an African country would win before the year 2000. That didn’t happen, but it didn’t stop Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, from saying (in 2021): An African team must win the World Cup in the near future. But is it realistic to keep hoping? Are African teams doing what they need to compete with the world’s best, making it just a matter…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Africa to go ahead with planned Super League – CAF

SPORT

MARK GLEESON AFRICAN football is going ahead with plans to launch a Super League, the continent's governing body said yesterday, despite a similar project in Europe crashing after public outcry. Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe said an African Super League, an idea first suggested by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, was needed to improve the game on the continent and make it financially viable. "We are assessing and in preliminary discussions to start an inclusive and broadly supported and beneficial CAF African Super League," he said in a statement. "We have been following the attempts by some top…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

The four big challenges facing Patrice Motsepe, Africa’s new soccer boss

SPORT

SOUTH African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe is set to become the eighth president of CAF – the Confederation of African Football – since 1957. He’ll take over from Ahmad Ahmad after a two year ban was placed on Ahmad by FIFA – Federation Internationale de Football Association, world football’s governing body. Motsepe must work with FIFA to run the sport in Africa, manage its reputation and oversee the various continental tournaments and leagues – as well as their entangled broadcast rights. Seasoned football analyst and communications scholar Chuka Onwumechili sheds light on the key challenges facing Motsepe’s bid to make…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

New king of African football

NEWS

BILLIONAIRE mining magnate Patrice Motsepe has become the first South African to be crowned head of African football. The 59-year-old Motsepe, ranked by Forbes among the richest men on the continent, was today elected unopposed as the new Confederation of African Football (CAF) president after a deal brokered by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The last impediment to his coronation, which took place at the CAF Congress in Rabat today, was removed on Monday when the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on CAF President Ahmad Ahmad for corruption, although reducing his suspension from five to two years. Ahmad…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Billionaire to be crowned new head of African football

NEWS

MARK GLEESON SOUTH African billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe will be crowned the new head of African football later this week in a tame end to tumultuous weeks of campaigning The 59-year-old Motsepe, ranked by Forbes among the richest men on the continent, has been anointed as the new Confederation of African Football (CAF) president after a deal brokered by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The last impediment to his coronation, which will come at the CAF Congress in Rabat on Friday, was removed on Monday when the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on CAF President Ahmad Ahmad…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Race to run Africa’s football confederation has just heated up. What’s at play

SPORT

SOUTH African billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s intention to contest for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will make for an interesting run up to the March 12 election. Until he announced his intention it appeared that Ahmad Ahmad, the Malagasy who currently leads the organisation, would be a shoo-in. CHUKA ONWUMECHILI, Professor of Communications, Howard University He had already secured support from 46 of the 54 member countries. Motsepe’s entry is bound to instigate a rethink. The president of CAF has immense powers, which include representing the continent at the highest committees for global football decision making at…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

South African billionaire to run for CAF presidency

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER PATRICE Motsepe, one of Africa’s billionaire club owners is on a mission to become the most powerful man in African football. Motsepe, the businessman who owns Mamelodi Sundowns, has emerged as a strong contender for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). His candidacy is supported by the South African Football Football Association (SAFA) as well as the South African government. Motsepe will take on the current CAF president Ahmad Ahmad, who dethroned the football strongman Issa Hayatou, of Cameroon, three years ago and Jacques Anouma of Ivory Coast. The elections are scheduled to take…