Samuel Eto’o linked with CAF presidency as Patrice Motsepe faces uncertainty

Home Home Latest News Latest News World Footaball World Footaball Ghana Players Abroad Ghana Players Abroad Ghana Premier League Ghana Premier League National Teams National Teams Videos Videos Black Stars Black Stars Transfer News & Rumours Transfer News & Rumours Kotoko Kotoko Hearts Of Oak Hearts Of Oak Samuel Eto’o linked with CAF presidency as Patrice Motsepe faces uncertainty 13 October 2026 Share this with Email Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Whatsapp Samuel Eto’o is reportedly considering a challenge to Patrice Motsepe’s position as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), amid growing questions over the South African’s future at the organisation.

The CAF executive committee is expected to confirm next month that the Africa Cup of Nations will return to a two-year cycle, according to The Guardian. However, the proposal is believed to have further weakened confidence in Motsepe’s leadership.

Most African football federation presidents were reportedly unaware that Motsepe intended to announce the change in the tournament’s frequency before the issue was raised at last week’s strategic conference.

Motsepe, a South African billionaire, is not currently expected to seek another term, despite remaining popular across the continent. He said publicly at the end of July that he would not stand for re-election.

His prospects of remaining in the role could depend partly on his relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Relations between the pair had reportedly cooled after CAF allowed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final in August, despite Artan having been prevented from entering the United States during the 2026 World Cup.

However, their relationship is said to have improved in recent weeks as Infantino seeks to strengthen his support in Africa.

Potential rivals to Motsepe are therefore understood to be trying to secure Infantino’s backing in the event that the CAF president is persuaded to step down before his current mandate expires in 2029.

Among those who could be involved is Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot). Eto’o publicly backed Infantino at the end of August.

Idriss Diallo, president of the Ivorian Football Federation, is also reportedly being considered, along with Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti. Yahya and Waberi both oppose the return to a biennial Africa Cup of Nations.

Another possible route would be to challenge Motsepe’s position through CAF’s statutory procedures. Such a move would require a written request from at least two-thirds of the members of the organisation’s executive committee.

Although he has not acknowledged it publicly, Eto’o is believed to remain privately committed to his ambition of leading CAF.