By Andrew Warshaw
November 10 – Patrice Motsepe’s challenge for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) needs to be supported because there is gaping hole in terms of leadership, according to the head of Sierra Leone football.
The billionaire South African businessman and club owner was unveiled on Monday as one of two contenders (the other is Jacques Anouma of Ivory Coast) to take over from under-fire incumbent Ahmad Ahmad who stands for re-election next March.
Adding her voice to those of South Africa and Nigeria in supporting Motsepe’s (pictured) candidacy, Sierra Leone FA boss Isha Johansen said Ahmad had failed to live up to expectations as head of CAF.
“Change has become a very popular slogan and mantra around the world,” said Johansen. “But let’s be honest, how many of us can really say we’ve succeeded in having meaningful change.”
“The reason we are throwing our hat in for Patrice Motsepe is because we haven’t seen that real change which we know is needed in African football.”
Ahmad’s tenure since 2017 has been fraught with scandal and unrest, so much so that CAF was effectively taken over by FIFA and run by its secretary general, Fatma Samoura, for six months last year amid claims that the confederation had become dysfunctional.
“The narrative has got to change,” said Johansen. “Motsepe is a humanitarian. It’s about putting the right people in the right places for the right reasons. That’s the key to growth and development on our Continent. We need that leadership and direction.
“Finally, we may just have got it right this time round in choosing a leader who will take African football and put it on the global map for the right reasons.”
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