Building football stadiums a key focus for CAF boss Patrice Motsepe

Patrice Motsepe, president of CAF, who has extended his leadership of the organisation until 2029, has promised to address the issue of national stadiums across Africa.

On Wednesday, Motsepe was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term at the 14th CAF extraordinary general assembly in Cairo. He said national stadiums would be one of his key areas of focus.

"In 2021, there were 36 countries that were not playing football in their own countries. The number has come down to 12, but for us, this is still a big number," said Motsepe. "At CAF and Fifa, it is our job to continue supporting the development of sports infrastructure."

Motsepe urged national federations to work with private financiers to help build national stadiums in countries where government budgets are restrictive. He emphasised that federations should engage with governments to provide facilities, though he acknowledged that many countries face more pressing needs, such as healthcare and education.

Motsepe said: “Many of the heads of state I meet say to me, ‘Whatever money we have, we have to pay back our loans.’

"We love football, but we have to ask: should we use the money to build a football stadium, or should we build a hospital, a clinic, or invest more in education?

“There is a love for football, but government support is not as strong as it could be. And it is not because governments don’t love football.”

Motsepe’s re-election follows a first term widely praised for stabilising CAF’s finances and boosting their global profile. Under his leadership, the organisation set several new records at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in 2023, attracting a record 1.4 billion viewers worldwide.

Another highlight has been the increase in prize money for major tournaments. The prize money for both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has risen significantly, alongside enhanced financial support for member associations.

The 63-year-old Motsepe faced no opposition after the nomination deadline passed in November 2024, despite speculation that North African countries were seeking a candidate to challenge him. However, his decision to run again came after requests from member association presidents and key stakeholders.

“The goal remains to make African football globally competitive, stabilize finances, and invest in infrastructure,” said Motsepe, whose unopposed re-election reflects both confidence in his leadership and the desire to see him elevate African football to new heights.