By Batsirai Sango.
It is only a year before African Football Supremo Dr. Patrice Motsepe clocks half a decade in charge of world’s most beautiful game on the continent. With the 34th edition of the Motherland’s football showpiece drawing to a close this month in Ivory Coast who were the host nation, one cannot resist but marvel and behold the breath of fresh air in renewed hope, potential that Dr. Motsepe’s presidency has brought to the football mad continent.
A renowned and successful mining magnet who needs no introduction late alone appointments to walk in some of the corridors of authority across the entire continent, Dr. Motsepe has thus far set African Football’s trajectory on the development and success path.
The expansion of the continent’s premiere football showpiece from the previous 16 nation team tournament to 24 teams was met with mixed reactions with overly zealous, enthusiastic pundits and fans alike questioning the move with suggestions it would reduce the competition’s prestige, quality and competitiveness, also with expansion others argued with developing African economies it would be another burden as more investment would be required and needed in infrastructure to successfully host the tournament.
Infrastructure is key in everything and what critics were not able to realize and see was Dr. Motsepe is not only worried about the now but the future as well, such that the continent has a commanding position in future bids to host international football tournaments as capacity in terms of the infrastructure to host would be available.
Others with a Pan-Africanist thought believed the continent’s football body was doing a copycat move as UEFA Europe’s football governing had also expanded their continental tourney, but if football is a global sport with African players dotted around some of the best leagues in the world, what should stop CAF from taking a good leaf from the experiences that the continent’s football expatriates would have brought back to the Motherland.
Again, a continent gigantic as Africa with more than 50 affiliates to the continental football body, and with only just 16 nation teams gracing the biggest football showpiece it was detrimental to development and growth of the game, as the weakness was that the same cast of protagonists would grace the final tourney, whenever the tournament would arrive.
The just ended 34th edition the 2nd after the tournament’s expansion showed some scintillating football with grit and heart as the continent’s football gladiators took to the football coliseum, and what majestic match venues the tournament had a testament of the visionary leadership of Dr. Motsepe’s presidency.
With 6 world class match venues the level of football quality on display was on another level and the competition was phenomenal as it brought other protagonists into the fray, with some yesteryear heavy weights all but out by the time the tournament reached the knockout stage.
It was sensational, exhilaration right through every game of the tournament with both players plying their trade on the continent and abroad going tore to tore proving the level of football on the continent is on the upward trend.
The Desert Foxes of Algeria, the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, the Black Stars of Ghana all but failed to make it out of the group stages, with the most successful team at the tournament the Pharaohs of Egypt losing to penalties against the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 16 and the host nation Ivory Coast getting clobbered by Equatorial Guinea Infront of their home fans 4nil.
Who could forget how Argentina got a shocker losing to Saudi Arabia in the opener of the 2022 Qatar FIFA world cup, before picking themselves up and going all the way to be crowned world champions, storying one of the most epic world cup triumphs.
As if heavyweight casualties had been enough 2022 world cup semifinalists Morrocco were knocked out by South Africa in what was the biggest upset of the knockout stage, a sheer reflection of the tide turning in the development of the game on the continent, a thing that would not have happened had the tournament not expanded and the continent has Dr. Motsepe’s CAF presidency to thank for that.
The numerous plaudits the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations shows expansion of the tournament was the right call and the passion for development of the president, couple with his business acumen ensured the host nation deliver on their commitment.
With an audience of 2 billion people having watched the Cup of nations around the world, the commercial and financial returns coupled with the numerous parties that partnered CAF the potential and prospects of African football have never been so huge, and Dr. Motsepe’s stewardship has to be credited for that with the CAF supremo attending every cup of nations match.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino also graced the final match and awards presentation at fulltime and his presence and honoring the invitation from Dr. Motsepe is an endorsement of what the latter is doing and continues to champion as football supremo on the continent.
The plaudits the tournament got and still continues to get proves the improvement the game has made but also in officiating as Sky sports pundits commended the match officiating especially the manner in which Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was being used imploring the match officials in the English Premier League to take a leaf from the unprecedented manner match officials had made use of VAR in making decisions during the course of matches.
A good leader is one who is able to ensure continuation of the good work he would have initiated even after they are no longer there Dr. Patrice Motsepe remarked, and all progressive football forces across the entire continent hope, Dr. Motsepe’s able stewardship has inculcated the kind of DNA that will keep football on the trajectory he has put it.
