Patrice Motsepe – Africa’s prince, as he is known – is being touted as the heir apparent to a highly coveted presidential role. Current president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Motsepe’s standing has received a positive boost within FIFA after hosting yet another successful AFCON tournament.
Moreover, Patrice Motsepe was able to increase AFCON revenue by as much as 90% on the back of several lucrative commercial deals. In turn, this has sparked rumours that the African billionaire would be an ideal candidate to challenge for the FIFA presidency …
PATRICE MOTSEPE FOR PRESIDENT
Not long ago, many pegged the business mogul to replace his brother-in-law, President Cyril Ramaphosa, as president of the African National Congress (ANC). In fact, the similarities between Motsepe’s and Ramphosa’s journeys is remarkably similar. After both working at law firms, they seized upon early business opportunities in post-apartheid South Africa, before diversifying widely.
However, after some persuasion by South African Football Association (SAFA) members, Patrice Motsepe did eventually run for the CAF presidency. Once elected in 2021, he set about resolving the federation’s in-fighting and significant debt burden. Now, no one would doubt Patrice Motsepe credentials to run for the FIFA presidency.
HOW PATRICE MOTSEPE CAN BECOME FIFA PRESIDENT
As of October 2025, Patrice Motsepe’s net worth is believed to be around $3.5 billion (R62 billion). Motsepe’s business background appear formidable on paper. His position on FIFA’s ruling Council provides him with superb institutional knowledge. However, should Motsepe decide to run, he would need to secure formal nominations from at least five FIFA member associations.
This requirement represents a sort-of global political campaign. If he hasn’t already, Patrice Motsepe will have to build cross-continental coalitions. From UEFA, to CONMEBOL, and Asian confederations. Incumbent FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, championed the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams. Not to mention increased revenue distribution to all member associations.
Speaking at a fundraising dinner in Houghton recently, Patrice Motsepe shutdown ANC presidency rumours once and for all. Referencing rumours of his running at the party’s December 2027 conference, he confirmed: “Being president of a country, it’s sacrosanct. It’s holy. I love challenges. But I also know the sort of challenges I shouldn’t waste my time with,” he said.
“This country has incredible people from whom we will choose the right leadership in 2027. And I will, in my own humble way, make a contribution. These people who say we want Patrice Motsepe to be president, they must realise that you don’t have to enter politics to make a contribution,” he concluded.
This frees Patrice Motsepe to focus all his attention on a potential FIFA presidency run. Elections for the top job typically occur every four years at the FIFA Congress. The most recent election was in 2023, when Infantino ran unopposed. This means the next will occur in 2027, coincidentally, the same year as the ANC conference. Therefore, the billionaire businessman has an ideal amount of time years to build support networks and develop policies within FIFA.
Meanwhile, Motsepe has still been included in several public polls surveying the popularity of ANC presidential candidates. Thousands of ANC supporters hold the belief that he can still be convinced to run somehow. However, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has urged the South African billionaire not fracture the party by pursuing a presidency. Mbalula said ‘the ANC cannot be seen to be chasing ghosts!’
But what do you think? Should Patrice Motsepe run for president of FIFA or the ANC? Is wealth a precursor to good leadership in South Africa and other major organisations? Let us know in the comment section below …