Patrice Motsepe's Caf leadership under pressure after Afcon U-turn as Samuel Eto'o waits

Patrice Motsepe's hold on the Confederation of African Football presidency is facing serious strain. His unexpected announcement about the Africa Cup of Nations format has raised fresh questions over his leadership among officials across the continent, and several contenders, including Samuel Eto'o, are starting to position themselves for the role.

• The Africa Cup of Nations is expected to return to a biennial schedule when Caf's executive committee meets in Abidjan next month.
• Motsepe announced the shift only ten months after the tournament had been moved to a four-year cycle.
• Multiple sources describe a loss of trust in Caf's leadership, with some figures unhappy at the president's management approach.
• Samuel Eto'o and officials from Mauritania, Ivory Coast and Djibouti are seen as potential replacements if Motsepe leaves before his term ends in 2029.

Africa Cup of Nations set to return to biennial cycle

Caf's executive committee is expected to confirm next month that the Africa Cup of Nations will once again take place every two years. The shift came as a surprise to most national federation presidents, many of whom had no idea the topic would emerge at last week's strategic conference in Cape Verde. Motsepe's move reverses a decision made only ten months earlier to hold the competition every four years.

The proposal appears to carry widespread support within African football, but the manner in which it was delivered has tested confidence in Caf's top brass. Several sources have suggested that trust in the current leadership has eroded and that Motsepe's way of managing the process has come under scrutiny.

Samuel Eto'o among the candidates to lead Caf

The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o, now president of Cameroon's football federation and a Caf executive committee member, is seen as one of the most prominent names in the race to succeed Motsepe. Other possible contenders include Mauritania's Ahmed Yahya, Yacine Idriss Diallo of Ivory Coast and Souleiman Waberi, a Fifa council member from Djibouti.

Waberi has been charged with embezzlement and money laundering, allegations he denies, but his presence on the Fifa council keeps him in the conversation. Additional candidates could emerge from southern Africa as the picture around Motsepe's future becomes clearer.

Infantino's influence and the power struggle inside Caf

Gianni Infantino's backing could be decisive in determining whether Motsepe stays in post. Several potential rivals are understood to be seeking the Fifa president's approval in case the South African businessman steps aside early. Motsepe has already said he will not seek a third term when his current mandate ends in 2029.

In Cape Verde, Motsepe offered Africa's unanimous support for Infantino's re-election in March, speaking on behalf of all 54 Caf member associations. Yet between 10 and 15 of those federations would reportedly consider voting against the Fifa president. The relationship between the two men cooled after Motsepe allowed Somali referee Omar Artan to take charge of Uefa's Super Cup in August despite being denied entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup. Sources suggest ties have improved in recent weeks as Infantino works to strengthen his African support.

Financial pledges, broadcast deals and doubts over the 2027 Afcon

At the Cape Verde gathering, Motsepe announced that Caf's annual payments to each member association would rise to around $700,000, an increase of $500,000. He is also said to have raised attendance fees for executive committee members from $150 to $350 and introduced an annual bonus of about $8,000 per member.

Those financial commitments come at a delicate moment. Caf's broadcast agreement with IMG expires after the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and there are growing questions over whether Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will be ready to host the tournament in June and July. Some sources believe the event could be moved to December and January, a shift that would have a major impact on the European club season.

Caf is believed to have received broadcast proposals for future editions from IMG and one unnamed company. However, the structure of the package remains unclear, and the possible return to a two-year cycle could influence its commercial value. A Caf spokesperson said the process was ongoing and that no rights had yet been awarded.