South African Patrice Motsepe, has announced his decision to run for the presidency at the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Patrice Motsepe was not present at the press conference to announce his intentions because he is currently in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.
The press conference was well-represented with the South African F.A President Danny Jordaan and the country’s Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa in attendance.
Speaking at the presser, Danny Jordaan said Motsepe was the right man for the job.
“Caf must improve its global standing,” he said.
“He is the most appropriate person we could offer for the leadership of CAF. We do not want any compromise on governance or ethics in football,” Jordaan added.
Meanwhile, CAF vice president Amaju Pinick has decided not to contest for the presidency.
The Nigerian Football Federation boss has subsequently supported Motsepe’s decision, declaring him as the only true candidate.
Amaju Pinick was widely expected to be one of Ahmad’s fierce opponents in next year’s elections after the former’s controversial sacking from the CAF cabinet in July last year.
The South African is the second candidate to announce in less than 48 hours, after Anouma – a former member of Fifa’s executive committee (now Fifa Council) between 2007 and 2015 – was formally backed by the Ivorian federation on Saturday evening.
Motsepe’s announcement makes him the third football administrator to publicly declare their intentions to run for the CAF presidency. Forty-eight hours earlier, Jacques Anouma; the head of the Ivorian Football Federation had announced his decision to contest.
Anouma who previously served on Fifa’s Executive Committee (now Fifa Council) between 2007 and 2015, also received formal backing from the Ivorian federation on Saturday evening.
Existing CAF rules require interested persons to have been involved in football for a minimum of five years preceding the date of their application. Motsepe meets this criterion since he has led Mamelodi Sundowns since 2004, and has received the backing of his own federation.
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