African football: malaise before the CAF General Assembly
The South African Patrice Motsepe.
AFP - PHILL MAGAKOE
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
4 min
The 43rd General Assembly of the African Football Confederation (CAF) will take place on March 12, 2021 in Rabat.
It will lead to the election of Patrice Motsepe to the presidency of CAF.
A certain unease hovers within African football, before this GA.
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From our special correspondent in Rabat,
Patrice Motsepe smiles broadly, his anti-Covid mask under his chin.
The South African laughs through the lobby of the Sofitel in Rabat, the hotel where the 43rd General Assembly (GA) of the African Football Confederation (CAF) will be held.
The billionaire is already followed by a real court, two days before his election to the presidency of CAF, scheduled for March 12, 2021. Shortly after, we see him eating with his close guard, made up in particular of the South African Danny Jordaan, of the Nigerian Amaju Pinnick and Zimbabwean Philip Chiyangwa.
The next day, he went to the official dinner alongside Gianni Infantino, the president of the International Football Federation (FIFA).
The good humor and relaxation of Patrice Motsepe, however, contrast with a form of unease that hangs before this GA.
" It is a comedy "
In fact, the subjects of tension are not lacking: the outgoing president of CAF Ahmad has seen his suspension reduced to 2 years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but will not be able to stand for a second term.
The interim manager, Constant Omari, is under investigation at the International Football Federation (FIFA) and has not been allowed to run for a new term on the FIFA Council.
Above all, the withdrawal of Motsepe's three opponents, the Ivorian Jacques Anouma, the Senegalese Augustin Senghor and the Mauritanian Ahmed Yahya, give a surreal dimension to this election.
As we moved towards the most open ballot in CAF history, the three West Africans lined up behind the South African.
Officially in the best interests of continental football.
"
It's a comedy,
" sighs a CAF leader, on condition of anonymity.
Gathered in Morocco at the end of February to discuss possible convergences, Anouma, Senghor and Yahya were all surprised to discover the presence of Motsepe.
FIFA representatives were also present.
This is what converging sources indicate.
None of them happily accepted this “Rabat compromise”, even though Senghor is supposed to become CAF 1st vice-president, Yahya the 2nd, and Anouma Motsepe's special advisor.
An observer present thus deplores a “
parody of democracy
”.
“
It will be a crowning
achievement,” quips a journalist.
Many are also worried about the financial fragility of an institution undermined by four years of expensive management and a year of Covid-19.
"Patrice Motsepe will be up to it"
CAF's reserves have melted and Patrice Motsepe is supposed to bring back sponsors and partners, thanks to his address book.
"
I believe he will be up to the task,
" defends Moïse Katumbi.
The Congolese businessman, boss of Tout Puissant Mazembe, has known Motsepe for several years.
“
He's a good manager, he shouldn't be underestimated.
I support him because I know there will be a change with him
”.
A federation president wonders, however: will the (future) new boss of African football really have the time to assume his responsibilities at CAF?
A Confederation executive invites you to give the tycoon a chance.
He will be there to give a "new course" to African football, he assures us.
In any case, FIFA President Gianni Infantino did not hide his satisfaction before the General Assembly.
"
The weather is nice here in Rabat and it certainly bodes well for
the CAF
Congress
(sic)
," he had fun on his arrival in Morocco.
It is a Congress which will be placed under the sign of the unity and the future of African football
”.
A few hours later, the boss of world football went to play a match, for fun.
Because, behind the scenes, the game is already folded.
Words of Moïse Katumbi collected by Olivier Pron,
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