South African billionaire and CAF President Patrice Motsepe is a leading candidate to become the first African to head FIFA. South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie praised Motsepe’s leadership at CAF and cited increased investment in African football that will rise continent’s success at the global stage under his guidance.
Patrice Motsepe has been CAF president since 2021 and was re-elected unopposed in 2025 for bringing financial growth, improved governance, and significant investment to African football. His path forward is multifaceted. Beyond the FIFA presidency, Motsepe has also been linked with potential interest in the South African presidency ahead of the 2029 elections.
Reportedly, the current head Infantino is widely expected to remain in office until 2031. Motsepe’s recent endorsement by South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has positioned him as the preferred candidate for when that term concludes.
McKenzie stated, “I don’t know if there’s anybody that will disagree with his name. As soon as the term is finished, we will all root for Patrice Motsepe to take over FIFA.”
If elected after Gianni Infantino’s tenure ends, Motsepe would become the first African to lead FIFA in the organisation’s 122-year history. However, Motsepe has not publicly declared any intention to contest the FIFA presidency.
Why This Endorsement Matters
Although the FIFA leadership contest remains years away, McKenzie’s remarks offer one of the clearest public indications yet that influential figures within African football are already positioning Motsepe as the continent’s preferred candidate.
Africa wields considerable influence in FIFA politics. CAF represents 54 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, making it one of the governing body’s largest voting blocs. Every member association has one vote in FIFA presidential elections, support from Africa can play a decisive role in determining the organisation’s leadership.
South African billionaire and CAF President Patrice Motsepe is a leading candidate to become the first African to head FIFA.
South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie praised Motsepe’s leadership at CAF, citing increased investment in African football and the continent’s… pic.twitter.com/224y4hYnjJ
— African Hub (@AfricanHub_) July 19, 2026
Businessman Turned Football Leader
Motsepe, aged 64, is best known for building African Rainbow Minerals into one of South Africa’s largest mining companies, becoming the country’s first Black billionaire. Forbes estimates his fortune at about $4.3 billion, placing him among Africa’s wealthiest individuals.
His business interests extend beyond mining into financial services through African Rainbow Capital, while he also owns South African football powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, which is one of the continent’s most successful clubs.
He became CAF president in 2021 and since then he has overseen reforms that aims at improving the organisation’s finances, governance and commercial appeal following years of corruption scandals that damaged the body’s reputation. McKenzie credited Motsepe with bringing greater professionalism and investment into African football.
Infantino Remains Calm
Despite growing discussion about a future successor, any leadership change at FIFA appears distant.
Infantino is widely expected to secure another term, with strong backing from Africa, Asia and South America, making any immediate challenge unlikely, which means any serious bid by Motsepe would likely come only after Infantino leaves office.
Speculations about Motsepe’s future is not limited to football. The billionaire has also been linked by South African political observers to a possible future presidential bid, although he has never publicly confirmed any political ambitions.
For now, he remains focused on leading CAF, while supporters continue to position him as Africa’s strongest candidate to one day take over world football’s highest office. The endorsement is less about an election that is still years away than about Africa signalling its intention to seek greater influence in global football governance.
If Motsepe eventually runs and wins, it would mark history, as for the first time an African has led FIFA, reflecting the continent’s growing political and commercial weight in the world’s most popular sport.