South Africa has thrown its weight behind billionaire businessman and Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe as a future leader of FIFA, a move that signals Africa’s growing ambition to shape the governance of world football.
If elected after Gianni Infantino’s tenure ends, Motsepe would become the first African to lead FIFA in the organisation’s 122-year history.
The endorsement came from South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who described Motsepe as the continent’s preferred candidate to succeed Infantino once the FIFA president completes an expected new term that would keep him in office until 2031.
“I don’t know if there’s anybody that will disagree with his name. As soon as the term is finished, we will all root for Patrice Motsepe to take over FIFA,” McKenzie told City AM.
Motsepe has not publicly declared any intention to contest the FIFA presidency.
