As AFCON 2023 is set to start this weekend in Côte d’Ivoire, we bring you those who headed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since it was founded in 1957. It is the governing body of African football.
The article shows the list of presidents of the governing body of association football, beach soc,cer and futsal in Africa, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the latest of which is South African businessman Patrice Motsepe since 12 March 2021.
Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem, Egyptian (1957-1958)
Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem, an Egyptian engineer was the first president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) when the African Football Governing body was formed.
The Egyptian was in charge for a year (1957-1958). In tribute to Abdelaziz Salem, the first trophy (from 1957 to 1978) of the African Cup of Nations football is called “Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem Trophy”
Abdel Aziz Mostafa, Egyptian (1958-1968)
After Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem ruled just for a year, Another Egyptian Abdel Aziz Moustafa became the next CAF president and ruled for 10 Years.
Abdel Halim Mohamed, Sudanese ( 1968-1972 and 1987-1988)
Abdel Halim Mohamed Abdel Halim was one of the founders of the Confederation of African Football and the president of the Sudan Football Association, Sudan Equestrian Association, Sudan Olympic Committee, and Sudanese Basketball Association.
He served as the third president of the Confederation of African Football from 1968 to 1972 and from 1987 to 1988. He objected to South Africa and Rhodesia sport-segregation policies and refused to allow their teams to play unless it was mixed.
Yidnekatchew Tessema, Ethiopian ( 1972-1987)
Tessema was a founding member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the late 1950s. He served CAF as the deputy president between 1964 and 1972 and as the President between 1972 and 1987. He was also a member of the African Sports Congress, International Olympic Committee, FIFA, and President of the African Olympic Committee.
The Ethiopian is the second oldest serving CAF President and headed the African Football Governing body for 15 years before his death in 1987 while still the president of CAF.
Issa Hayatou, Cameroonian (1988-2017)
Issa Hayatou is the longest-serving president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Issa Hayatou, who was President of the Cameroonian Football Federation from 1986 to 1988, succeeded Tessema as CAF President at the General Assembly in Casablanca, in 1988. During the elections, Hayatou grabbed 22 votes against 18 votes for the Togolese challenger Godfried Ekoué.
The Cameroonian served as the president of CAF for 29 years (between 1988 and 2017.
He also served as the acting FIFA president until 26 February 2016 as the previous president Sepp Blatter was banned from all football-related activities in 2015 as a part of that year’s FIFA corruption investigation. In 2002.
Ahmad Ahmad, Madagascar ( 2017-2021)
Ahmad Ahmad is a Malagasy politician and football administrator who became the 6th president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and vice-president of FIFA from 2017 to 2021 after beating long-serving Issa Hayatou.
Ahmad Ahmad won the election by obtaining 34 votes out of 54 voters, ending the 29-year presidency of Issa Hayatou. He was elected President of the African Football Confederation and, in fact, vice-president of FIFA.
Patrice Motsepe, South Africa (2021 till Present)
Patrice Motsepe is a South African billionaire and the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. a Premier soccer league.
Motsepe was elected on 12 March 2021, after that all four other candidates withdrew their candidacies. His son Thlopie Motsepe took over as Mamelodi Sundown’s new chairman after he became the new president of CAF.
