CAF President Patrice Motsepe backed under-fire FIFA boss Gianni Infantino as a ‘loyal friend’ and said he was proud of what African football had achieved at the World Cup, while confirming he will not seek a third term in office.
“He’s not just a good friend, he’s a loyal friend. He’s loyal to Africa […] when people have been loyal to you, you never step in the back,” Motsepe said, during a press briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter in 2016 and is expected to stand for re-election in 2027. He was slammed over the decision to delay a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun – after a call from Donald Trump – plus the ‘hydration breaks’ and potentially expanding the format to 64 teams.
Motsepe said he was “very proud” of what Africa had achieved.
“African football is very proud. They did very well. We set very high standards for ourselves. We’ve got very high expectations,” Motsepe said.
“Our clear objective, and we are now more confident than ever before coming from the FIFA World Cup, is to see an African nation becoming champions of the world,” he added.
Motsepe said nine of Africa’s 10 teams progressed from the group stage to the Round of 32, the continent’s best-ever FIFA World Cup performance.
“It shows that with absolute commitment, investment, training in youth, and of course unity, it is also important for us,” he said, calling for stronger government and private sector support, with sustainable investment to achieve success.
Motsepe also ruled out seeking a third term as CAF president, stating: “Nobody is going to persuade me to serve more than two terms in CAF. It’s not going to happen.”
Africa was represented by a record 10 teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams.
Nine African nations reached the Round of 32 after advancing from the group stage, marking the continent’s strongest performance in World Cup history.
Source: Viory
