South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe raises African football grants by 33%

The Confederation of African Football, led by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, will pay each of its 54 member associations $700,000 a year, a 33% increase, as talk of who will succeed him at the head of the continent's football body gathers pace.

The confederation, known as CAF, announced the increase on Wednesday. Annual support for each national association rises from $525,000, while the six regional zonal unions will each receive $900,000 a year, up 20% from $750,000. The grant to the African Clubs Association goes to $500,000 from $400,000, according to CAF's announcement as reported by Africa Top Sports, Ysscores and Western Post.

The payments have climbed steadily under Motsepe. Each association received $200,000 a year in 2021, the year he was first elected CAF president. The figure was later doubled to $400,000 and then raised to $525,000 before this week's increase, which puts the total rise over five years at 250%.

At $700,000 for each of the 54 associations, CAF's annual outlay to national federations comes to about $37.8 million. The confederation said the money is meant to strengthen football administration, fund development programmes in youth and women's football, and make member associations more financially stable. It also said the funds should create opportunities for players, coaches and referees.

In Nigeria, the increase means an extra $175,000 a year for the Nigeria Football Federation, Western Post reported.

A succession race takes shape

The grant increase comes days after Motsepe, 64, told a CAF strategy conference in Cape Verde that his current term would be his last. He was first elected in March 2021 and returned unopposed for a second four-year term in March 2025, which runs until 2029. He said in July that "nobody is going to persuade me to spend more than two terms as CAF president."

His announcement has opened the field. Samuel Eto'o, the former Barcelona and Cameroon striker who now heads the Cameroonian Football Federation and sits on CAF's executive committee, has emerged as a possible candidate, according to Inside World Football and The Guardian. Other names in circulation include Yacine Idriss Diallo, president of the Ivorian Football Federation, and Ahmed Yahya, who leads Mauritania's football federation. None has declared a candidacy, and there is no confirmed list of contenders for the 2029 election.

AFCON back on a two-year cycle

Motsepe is also under pressure over the scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations, the continent's flagship tournament. CAF announced in December that the competition would move to a four-year cycle from 2028 as part of an overhaul of its national-team calendar. Motsepe said last week that the confederation was "looking at everything, including having the AFCON coming back every two years," according to Al Jazeera.

Inside World Football reported on Wednesday that the return to a biennial tournament has broad support among member associations and is expected to go before CAF's executive committee in Abidjan next month. The publication said several federation presidents had not known Motsepe planned to reopen the debate. The frequency of the tournament matters commercially, since CAF's broadcast deal with IMG expires after the 2027 edition and the confederation is weighing offers for the next rights cycle.

The 2027 tournament is scheduled for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17. Motsepe has insisted it will stay in East Africa despite reports of construction delays. Inside World Football said one option being discussed is moving the tournament back to the Christmas and New Year window, which would clash with the European club season. CAF has not confirmed any change of dates.

Motsepe made his fortune in mining through African Rainbow Minerals, the Johannesburg-listed producer of iron ore, manganese, platinum group metals and coal. He is also the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, one of South Africa's most successful football clubs. Forbes estimated his net worth at $3.5 billion in July, down from $4.3 billion at the start of the year as shares of African Rainbow Minerals fell.