Caf in Crisis: Motsepe, Eto'o and the Afcon Power Struggle

Trust Erodes at the Top of African Football

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) is facing one of its most turbulent governance moments in recent memory, with president Patrice Motsepe under growing pressure from officials across the continent. According to reports, national association presidents have warned they have lost trust in the Caf leadership, and rivals — including Samuel Eto'o — are positioning themselves as potential replacements should Motsepe step down early.

The immediate trigger is a dramatic U-turn on the frequency of the Africa Cup of Nations. Just 10 months after a decision was taken to hold Afcon every four years, Motsepe surprisingly announced a reversal last week. A return to the traditional biennial cycle is now expected to be confirmed at Caf's executive committee meeting in Abidjan next month. While that move is said to have wide support within Africa, the manner of the announcement has caused significant damage.

Several sources indicate that most national association presidents were unaware Motsepe intended to announce the proposed change to Afcon's frequency until the issue was raised at a strategic conference in Cape Verde. That lack of consultation has fuelled questions over Motsepe's management style and decision-making process, turning what could have been a straightforward policy correction into a broader referendum on his leadership.

The Eto'o Factor and the Infantino Connection

Into this vacuum steps a familiar name. Samuel Eto'o, the former Barcelona and Inter striker turned football administrator, is reported to be among those waiting in the wings. According to sources, potential rivals for the Caf presidency are actively trying to gain the approval of Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, should Motsepe step down early. That detail is significant: it suggests the contest for African football's top job is already being played out through global power structures, not just continental ones.

Eto'o's emergence as a potential successor reflects a wider trend in football governance, where former elite players leverage their on-field reputations into administrative power. But the fact that candidates are seeking Infantino's blessing before any vacancy formally exists speaks to the delicate politics at play. Any change at Caf would have ripple effects across Fifa's global decision-making, particularly with the expanded Club World Cup and the international match calendar continuing to generate friction between confederations.

For now, Motsepe remains in office, and the biennial Afcon return is expected to proceed. But the damage to trust may prove harder to repair than the tournament's schedule. As one source put it, the issue is less about the decision itself and more about how it was made — a recurring theme in modern football governance.

Why This Matters Beyond Africa

The Caf situation is not an isolated story. It sits alongside other governance flashpoints in the global game. In England, the chair of the Independent Football Regulator, David Kogan, has insisted he will resign if he faces any political pressure over how to respond to Manchester City being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period. Kogan stated that "our independence is absolute and my independence personally is absolute," and that he has faced "absolutely no political pressure."

Concern had been raised that the proximity of City's ownership to the Abu Dhabi state could trigger a political intervention by the UK government, testing the new regulator's powers. Kogan could remove City's Abu Dhabi United Group should the damning verdict of an independent commission be upheld at the end of an ongoing appeal process. The parallel with Caf is striking: both cases involve questions of independence, external influence, and the willingness of administrators to act without fear or favour.

For African football, the stakes are particularly high. Afcon is the continent's flagship tournament, and its scheduling affects domestic leagues, player release agreements, and commercial contracts across dozens of countries. A return to a biennial cycle will be welcomed by many who felt the four-year plan weakened the tournament's rhythm and visibility. But the process by which that return was announced has exposed a leadership style that critics say is too top-down for a confederation of 54 member associations.

Whether Motsepe survives the pressure may depend on how he handles the coming weeks. The Abidjan executive committee meeting will be a key test. If the biennial confirmation passes smoothly and trust can be rebuilt, the crisis may subside. If rivals like Eto'o continue to gather momentum — and especially if they secure influential backing — the presidency could become untenable.

What is clear is that African football's governance is entering a decisive phase. The outcome will shape not only who leads Caf, but how the confederation relates to Fifa, to its member associations, and to the millions of fans who expect the game's administrators to be as accountable as the players they oversee. For more analysis of the beautiful game's biggest stories, see our latest football news and explore our Premier League predictions for the domestic angle on football's governance era.