South African mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe was elected president of the African soccer confederation on Friday without the need for a vote after a deal brokered by FIFA saw his three challengers withdraw, leaving him as the sole candidate.
Motsepe was confirmed by acclamation - a round of applause by officials - at the Confederation of African Football's general assembly meeting.
The 59-year-old Motsepe, a highly successful businessman but a man who has little experience in soccer administration, is now in charge of turning around FIFA's most troubled confederation.
Motsepe was the first Black African to make Forbes' list of billionaires and is the brother-in-law of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. He became the sole candidate after FIFA president Ginanni Infantino's intervention saw candidates Augustin Senghor of Senegal, Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Jacques Anouma of Ivory Coast withdraw.
Infantino attended the general assembly, where Motsepe referred to him as "my brother" and thanked him "for the vision and encouragement of unity."
Under the deal, Motsepe, Senghor, Yahya, and Anouma are set to operate as "a team" at the head of CAF, FIFA said. The move has spurred criticism of FIFA and Infantino, though, for interfering in what is African soccer business.
