Africa’s ninth richest man, Dr. Patrice Thlopane Motsepe of South Africa, has been elected as the new president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to replace Ahmad Ahmad.
Mr. Pinnick was elected at the just concluded CAF 43rd General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco, on Friday.
Ahmad, it could be recalled, was banned from all football-related activities by FIFA for two years for financial misconduct.
Motsepe will serve four four-years until the next election in 2025.
He is a mining billionaire who is also into banking and telecommunications and has businesses in 40 African countries.
Motsepe is also the owner of top South African club, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Dr. Motsepe mounted the ‘throne’ unchallenged after his challengers Augustine Senghor of Senegal, Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Jacques Anouma of Cote d’Ivoire withdrew from the race before today’s poll.
In his acceptance speech, Motsepe expressed gratitude to the African football family for his attainment of the position.
He said it is a huge honour to serve African football at the highest level.
“All of us can and will work together,” he said, underscoring the need for team work, collaboration and sense of togetherness.
He also thanked Senghor, Yahya and Anouma who withdrew from the race.
Reacting to the smooth nature of the election, FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised what he termed the “African team spirit”.
Infantino stressed the importance of “team spirit” to project African football to the top of the world during his address at the 43rd CAF Ordinary and Elective General Assembly.
Speaking, Infantino said: “We know the values of football, but the most important value is team spirit.
“This is the team spirit that we have witnessed these days in Africa”.
Referring to the future of African football, the FIFA President said: “I have already said it, and I say it again.
“We must stop saying that it is necessary to develop African football. It is about projecting it to the summit of world football.
“The time for talking has stopped.
“We must move on, and we must move on as a team: as a CAF team and a FIFA team that also includes all the confederations and associations from all over the world.
“You are CAF. You are FIFA.”
In relation to Motsepe, the FIFA President commented:
“I want to wish all the very best for the next four years, to the new leading team of CAF, of African football, and to Patrice Motsepe, to all those who have been involved, to Augustin, Ahmed, Jacques and everyone.
“I want to assure you that FIFA is not at your side. FIFA is together with you.”