A South African report has raised doubts over whether billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe stands any chance of becoming the first southern African to win the presidency of continental confederation CAF next month.
The Pretoria-headquartered Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS), as reported by public broadcaster SABC, describes as “slim” the prospects for the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns.
It acknowledges his “very great connections” throughout the world but cautions that the murky field of international football politics demands “certain qualities which are foreign to him”. The report bears the signature of ISS director Mpho Tsedu.
Regional COSAFA group of southern African football associations has granted unanimous backing to Motsepe. But they represent fewer than a third of the potential ballot and nor has he received official support from the South African government.
This has raised particular questions. Because Motsepe is the brother-in-law of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Currently three other certain candidates remain ahead of the election congress in Rabat on 12th March. Ahmed Yahya, 44, from Mauritania, Augustin Emmanuel Senghor, 55, from Senegal and Ivory Coast FA president Jacques Anouma, 69.
The status of CAF president Ahmad Ahmad is uncertain. He has been banned from football for corruption offences by world federation FIFA. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had raised the suspension ahead of an appeal hearing on 2nd March.