CAN MAROC 2025 : LE PRÉSIDENT DE LA CAF, DR PATRICE MOTSEPE, FACE À LA PRESSE

Is it on now? It's on. You can hear. Yeah, just before we start, just a moment of silence out of respect to our colleague the journalist from Mali who lost his life in bed. Just a moment of silence and respect and pray as well. Thank you very much. Now we start all our meetings in CAF with a prayer. Every single one of the meetings. I know the first one they said, 'President, we don't have the culture of prayer.' I said no well you know I have the privilege of growing up in a multi-religious environment and religion plays an important role not just in our beliefs but also in values, in ethics, in integrity and that usually translates into governance and respect. So, I'll make a few brief remarks and then, in fact, just before I go say, you know, go into that. Yesterday, we donated $500,000. Again, it's not about the money. It's about the respect and the recognition of the important role that religion plays in the lives of all of us. All our religions and so we made and we did the same thing in Cameroon. So we've got a policy that whenever there's an AFCON, the Motsepe Foundation, the family foundation makes a humble donation to the religious organizations in those countries. So we gave made a donation to our Christian Catholic faith as well as to our Muslim faith in Cameroon and we did the same in Cote d'Ivoire and it was an honor and a privilege to do the same yesterday. Of course we are about football and football is what we're excited about, but we also recognize that the best football in the world is in an environment where people respect each other and economic growth and investment in infrastructure and facilities, stadiums, football pitches, schools, football and a growing economy. And we've also said that religion unites our people across different religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds. Okay, let's go to the football now. And what is important for me is not just to come and tell you what our assessment is, but also to hear from you what your assessment is, including your criticism. Because sometimes in my upbringing, the most important thing is to listen to perceived areas of weakness, perceived areas of failure. It's an important opportunity to learn and it just contributes to all of us becoming better and our objective is very clear, very clear objective. African football must be amongst the best in the world, the most successful. It starts on the field of play. We have to win in Africa and we have to win at the highest level in the world. So what particularly also excites me about this AFCON is its preparation for our national teams those that will be representing us in the World Cup. So you know in life people respect you on results. They don't come and talk about your plans, your strategies and how beautiful it is the football in Africa is. What are the fans saying? Because the fans will not watch African football if it is not exciting and attractive. So I'm so proud of the work that every one of the 54 member associations that are members of CAF and who represent 54 countries on the African continent, we've made good progress, but we set very high standards for ourselves, very high standards and we take motivation from the accessible quantifiable successes. But we're very clear that there is still significant progress to be made. There's still work to be done. And we want to be as good as the best. So I was watching the match between Nigeria. In fact, I've watched part of my plan was to watch every nation. So I'm happy that every one of the 24 nations that came for the AFCON I had the honor and the privilege of watching every single one of them and but it's also a learning experience for me because to see how the referees are officiating and again you know I had a meeting with the referees before the match before the AFCON and I said no guys and we've got so much confidence in your quality, in your integrity, in your credibility, in your ethics. But the test is not what the president thinks. The test is not what CAF thinks. The test is what those millions of football lovers think. And we can give them the best technical explanation. It was not hand to ball. I don't it was foot or I don't know or even I don't want to say toe knee to hand it's a penalty and I want to say to you what I said yesterday to all the 54 presidents of the 54 African countries under no circumstances will any single country in Africa be treated better more preferential than any other country. It's never going to happen. Not whilst I'm president. Every single one of the 54 countries in Africa are going to be treated with all the respect, all the dignity and all the recognition they deserve. And that's what our commitment is. But of course, we've got to listen. And when people say but yeah why is it that the referees seem to and the VR operators and I don't know and this country called I can't call it AIA let me call it Afro Afro I don't know Afro Europe or Afro Asia it's the 54th country. So, so I'm very happy that and we can't be oblivious to what the podcast and the media is saying because I watch TV as well. So, when the commentators say but that was a red card or why did it not go to VR or why was that not a penalty? Our credibility depends on what ordinary football supporters and fans in Africa and Europe and we will consistently improve, train and make sure that the referees, the VR operators and the match commissioners are world class. This has indeed been the most successful CAF, the single most successful CAF in the history of this competition. And the question is, but president, why are you saying that? Number one, the quality of football has been world class. And it's not so important. Let me say it's more important what some of the best coaches, the best football analyst, the legends are saying about the quality of football. Remember we will only succeed if our football is exciting and people want to pay to watch it. And I'm very excited Mbappe came. I wasn't sure whether he was wearing Morocco and I said pap you know because your father is from Cameroon and your mother is from Algeria. Beautiful. And then Morocco played the Cameroon. It complicated things a bit but we're excited. Zidane, beautiful, and various other players so proud and to come and support the best players in Africa that we have competing against the best in the world. So the quality of football world class, the quality of the stadiums, the infrastructure, the facilities world class and of course my duty is to rotate. I want every one of the zones, the regions, there are five zones. I want every one of them to get an opportunity to host the top competitions in Africa. But what is non-negotiable is your football pitch must be world class. The infrastructure must and will help you. I mean I took away the CHAN was supposed to take place in February in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda. I said let's wait and we'll move it to August because we want to give them an opportunity to spend more money but also with the next AFCON in mind next year. So I'm very proud of what they've done. So the facilities and that's why it's appropriate on behalf of the 54 nations whose member associations are members of CAF to really express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI. May God assist him. Express our gratitude to the government, the people of Morocco. And of course I always feel proud of the work that my brother Fouzi is doing. I call him Fouzi and some people say it's Fuzzy and okay, it's fine. Fuzzy, Fouzi, perfect. And it makes me proud when ordinary people in the street say the hospitality, the warmth with which they've been received by ordinary Moroccans. It's beautiful. And then my Moroccan friend says, 'Yeah, but president, that's part of our culture. That's part of our history.' Beautiful. Beautiful. I saw the flag of Morocco mixed side by side with the flag of Algeria. For me, it makes me proud. I'm happy of that because we want all our people to be together. We want all Africans to be together. I saw the president of football in the DRC and the president of football from Rwanda together having a wonderful time. Beautiful. That's what we're all about to bring all our people together. And where there are challenges, we will humbly use football to unite. And this unity, of course, is unity in the continent, but it's also a commitment to unity with Europe, with America, with Asia, with South America. On Monday morning at 3:00 I'll be flying 3:00 in the morning I'll be flying to Davos for the World Economic Forum and there's 70 heads of state and it's part of there and of course we going to talk a little bit about the World Cup in America and there's lots of things that Gianni will be there as well. Gianni apparently arrived and our FIFA brothers. So that's beautiful. But of course there we'll be talking about how do we bring the world together? How do we encourage more trade more partnership in the world that is becoming increasingly divided. So and let me just finally because there's let's talk about the AFCON every four years. Now let me explain to you. I hear somebody smiling but you know a smile sometimes can be a loud smile. Let me tell you I'm clear in my mind I have to be in a much better situation in this new dispensation than I was in the previous dispensation. And the numbers and the figures don't lie and the facts don't lie because I can have my own interpretation say it's wonderful it's good but if the facts and the numbers and the data doesn't support it then it's incorrect so what's going to happen we only had one competition that really made money I want a competition every year every year every year at this stage with the exception of the year when there's a World Cup and we're also looking at that to even have a competition in that year. Now the AFCON is about it used to be 20 nations and we increase it to 24. Every year I'm going to have 54 nations in Africa. Not 24 like in a 54. 54 and unlike what happened in the past, I'm going to have the best African players who play in Europe. We are proud of them. The best African players who play in America, proud of them in Asia, in South America, they're going to be part of this competition every year in Africa. Now, how much do I pay for the AFCON? I think when I became president the first prize was maybe 4 million or something 4 million and I immediately increased it you know to five I don't know where the five was going to come because we owed $150 million at the time and then increased it again to seven for Cote d'Ivoire and increased it again to 10 and I'm excited because I know some of those players not the ones who play in Europe the ones in Africa if they get significant money, some of that money goes into their pockets. And that's what we want. So part of my objective is to make sure that in every sense the African Nations League competes with AFCON. I don't want I don't want I don't want one fishing rod to try and get catch fish for me in the sea. I want, you know, the AFCON fishing rod was every once every two years. I'm going to have a fishing rod every year. And part of what we want to do is you've got to make the African Nations League at the minimum as exciting and better still even more exciting than the AFCON. And the judge of that is not the president of CAF. It's not CAF. It's the fans, it's you in the media. And we have to listen to you. Whether we agree or disagree is irrelevant. And sometimes what's even more important is when you criticize us, it's a learning opportunity. So we currently pay 10 million and I shouldn't say this. If you agree, if you promise not to write about it and keep it to yourself, I'll say it quickly. My aim is to get 10 million first prize for the Africa Nations League. Where am I going to get the money from? I'll find it. So if I've got 10 million there and make sure that the African Nations League competes in every sense with the AFCON but of course AFCON there's a sentimental it's like this grandmother who brought you up when your mother was working. She's got a special place in your heart and will always have a special place in your heart. But you can't tell a grandma go to work in a Toyota. I love Toyotas when you can take her to work in a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz. I mean, they whatever nice car, we have to improve all the time, become better, more competitive and we have to listen to our sponsors and of course we've got to listen to our fans and we also have to listen to the media. So, I'm excited. There's a lot of work that still needs to be done. Part of my job is when I'm not president of CAF because every leader there's a time to go and there's a time to leave. So part of my job is the president who takes over from me must find a foundation and the leadership where they can continue the good work that we've done together. No organization succeeds because of an individual or because of a president doesn't exist. We've got 80,000 employees in the mining companies where we are either that we have formed as a family or where we are the biggest shareholder. 80,000 employees every day go to work and we succeed not because of me but because of all of these people and we've got to look after them, motivate them. And there's another 33,000 in the financial services companies where we are. So in everything we do, we succeed because of the people we have the privilege to work with. And I'm very honored that, you know, I've had the privilege to work with some good people. And as I said, my job is to make sure that you know I don't know a few years down the line when I'm not president of CAF and I look at the leadership and they should say together we've laid a good foundation and they must continue because I think a lot of the successes of what we are doing the results will be seen a few years down the line. So have I forgotten anything?

You know, we donated $10 million from the Motsepe Foundation for schools football in Africa. Get schools football going. There's about 100,000 schools that participate. We're going to have millions of young Africans playing in these competitions. So and of course ethics, governance, integrity. I have to make sure that the sponsors are convinced that every cent that this organization makes goes where it's supposed to go. Our member associations and of course is and we have to stop employing people at CAF who you know who are there because it's a job they must be there because they are well paid well appreciated and we want the best and the smartest and I'm always disappointed when an employee comes and say I enjoy my job but I was offered more money by your competition So I'm also proud that we've significantly increased the salaries of the staff and there's a commitment to do more. I mean I'm going to repeat the prize money. Of course sir one quick issue women's football very very important. You know I can say all the wonderful things. It really means nothing if on the ground there isn't quantifiable accessible success. We've spent a lot of money on women's football. It's coming up. I'm so proud and it'll keep growing. So, I just want to conclude by saying that I want to thank the media. Have I forgotten anything?

General Secretary. President? No. No. Madame, can Madame Bestin? Okay. So, as I said, part of this thing is to give for us an opportunity for you to ask whatever question you may want to ask and we will see you next year in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and let me say this, we have a duty. My duty is to Africa. It starts there. But my second duty is I can only promote Africa if in those areas where we have to work together with the world with Europe with America with Asia with South America in those areas. I have to we have to work together. The success of football in Europe is good. I want Europe. I want America. I want Asia. I want their football in those countries to keep growing and keep succeeding and I'm clear that in Africa we are going to keep growing and keep succeeding. So I just want to in conclusion say once more huge gratitude to the people of Morocco. Thank you so much. Merci beaucoup to the people of Morocco that this is the spirit of Africa. Bring us all together. They took me to a university here in Morocco. 48 African countries have got students at that university. Beautiful. Beautiful. 88 countries from out of worldwide. So there's another 40 countries that have got students. We are part of a world where we want where we have to work together. Our growth is the growth of all of us together. And then there's something else which might come back later but and of course I want to thank the government and as I said thank His Majesty King Mohammed VI may God assist him assist him and thank the government and thank our brother Fouzi there's one other point that they reminded me about it just slipped my mind hopefully it'll come back when we take all the questions okay Just one final thing. I hope we've looked we've tried to look well after the media. We're not doing you a favor when we treat you with respect and with the dignity you deserve. It's our duty and I want to thank you for there's 190 countries 190 the official number is 180 but we are told that there's 10 others where there's they've got access in ways that they only know how that have been watching African football. We're enormously grateful and we're grateful for you because you've carried some of that and it's to a large extent because of you and thank you for being with us and if there are ways that we can make your stay with us better, please let us know. Because you know we will be together next year, we'll be together during the year and you've got a job to do. We have a job to do. We have a duty to try and help you in executing your job. It's good for us. You're not doing you know you're not doing us we are not doing you a favor. Okay. Are we ready for questions now?

And just please ask your question in every language you want to because we will translate.

Can I just ask you a favor? Just say who you are, which country you are from because it just helps me a bit.

Thank you. Thank you so much. I wanted to come to Tunisia. I think I've and I will come this year. I've been to 48 countries of the 54. The others I've been to in various others, but I was advised not to go because of the problems at the time with the president of the member association. The feedback was that the family said wait a bit. So there's a new president and I will definitely be coming. But thanks for that question because Tunisia has a proud football history and will be representing the national team of Tunisia will be representing the people of Tunisia but representing the 54 countries in Africa. How much did the AFCON cost? It cost us a lot of money.

I'll give you the exact numbers. Because I'm getting feedback from EXCO. They're pulling these numbers together roughly. Where's Richard? Richard is not here. Yeah. Okay. I'll we'll communicate with him. But you see you know for us in the corporate world, it's the bottom line is what are your profits? And I've got a very good idea of that. And partly why is because there are some expenses that some of our sponsors said we will take these expenses and there are some expenses where we have to pay but we've got new sponsors who are saying that in fact we've got current sponsors who are saying renew my contract and I'll help you with some of the current payments. So I will give we'll release a statement and we'll be more specific with that. But I can tell you bottom line for me is this AFCON will be profitable. And that's a key issue because I can spend let me give you a bad example. I can spend $500 million and then I only get $300 million or $400 million. I've got a problem. I can spend $100 million and get $200 million. It excites me. So, I had numbers in my mind because numbers are everything. And I'll give you the exact the exact detail. I really want again the government of Morocco has spent a lot of money. I can't you know we don't comment on behalf of any government. I think that those numbers you will get from the government. But I want to thank them because I mean I can see I saw what was going on in Cameroon and the first thing a few days after I became president they said cancel Cameroon it mustn't take place they're not ready you know the government makes and then I went and they made promises which I believe was correct they didn't fulfill them but I wasn't going to allow Cameroon not to take place it wasn't going to happen I was not going to allow Cameroon not to succeed so I 10 people. They were there all the time and it was successful. Thank you. We'll give you I hope you don't mind. I'm going to try and answer some of the questions as quickly as possible so that we can take in as many as possible.

You didn't follow the rule. It was one there. I think you like these people a lot and then one here and one one there. Let me tell you and I want to tell you now because it complicates my life. It complicates my life. I've had so many countries that wants to host 2028. I've had so many countries that wants to host the African Nations League. And I think one thing I must tell you quickly about that is you know in 2029 we're going to have 54 it's important because 54 African nations 54 participating in the African Nations League all the players from overseas will be involved they will be taking place during the FIFA window. So can you imagine Nigeria playing Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire playing Cameroon, Egypt playing Morocco, Kenya playing Tanzania, Tanzania so all over. But what we are going to do is there's going to be one country that will be identified as you are the host. So even though in the FIFA window all of the whole of the continent will be playing. Let me give you an example. Assuming we say Nigeria, Nigeria you are going to host Africa Nations League 2029. You are host. So what we will do is whereas in and Nigeria is part of 16. I don't like that zone as the president of CAF because it's got the best football all of them are excellent you know but you've got Nigeria playing Ghana, you've got Cote d'Ivoire playing Cameroon it's not good for us when it comes to the World Cup because somebody's going to exclude somebody else and I want all of them to compete with the rest but the point is we now go 2029 we say Nigeria you are the host So what will happen is in Nigeria, the 16 nations that are part of West Africa will all play in Nigeria. They'll host them during the FIFA window. But all the other zones, there'll be a draw there. So you might find South Africa playing Zimbabwe, the draw will decide where they play. Kenya playing Uganda, the draw will decide. Egypt playing Algeria, the draw will decide. And then the winner because that's going to take place between September, October. The winner of each of the zones will then come to Nigeria. He'll come to Nigeria to play against the winner of the West African zone. And that contest will then determine who the champions are. We've looked at what happens worldwide and you've got to learn. You've got to see what has worked in other parts of the world, what has failed and make sure that we implement what is the very best. So you are asking me about has South Africa, has Tunisia, I'm going to have to do CAF is going to have to do something that in strict compliance with the FIFA and CAF statutes and regulations. I mean, I've got heads of states who are phoning me. I don't decide. It's the CAF EXCO that decides. But what I'm clear about is the quality of your infrastructure has to be worldwide and will help you as well succeed. So you've so what we're going to have to do is to say okay Senegal you want to host the next Africa Nations League. Ethiopia has put in a bid. Morocco has put in a bid. Angola and others. Can we allow Senegal to host it now and then the next time we will give Angola a chance or Zimbabwe a chance but you've got to have the infrastructure and then the next time because we've already given Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda the AFCON next year. Let's give Ethiopia 120 million people. I want to develop football here. And then we go to the north, we say, let's give Egypt or Algeria or Tunisia a chance. So I need to give everybody a chance. But where my life becomes complicated is when Ghana comes and says everybody's offering 100 million, I'm going to give you 200 million. And whilst Ghana is talking about 200 million, Kenya says I'm going to give you 300 million. So, I've got to get a balance because I need to build infrastructure facilities throughout. There are still some countries in Africa, they don't play in their country. The national team and the football clubs don't play in their country. You cannot develop football if the fans and supporters of a nation cannot watch their national team or their clubs. So part of my focus now is to make sure that in those countries where they still play outside this $1 million and various others we say now listen that money has to go to upgrading your stadium. You've got to play in front of your supporters and your fans. I'm happy that we now have done we show football on TV all the time. So you're 100% right. We've got so many countries and not just that what makes it even more is you've got I've got three countries that says I want 2028, I want 2031, I want 2035, I want all three. And because I want all three, I'm going to give you more money than anybody else. And you must be careful. Money is important, but life is never only about money. It's never been and can never be only about money. But I need the money for infrastructure, for young boys and girls, for stadiums, for schools, for football pitches and for making sure that the infrastructure in those stadiums are world class. Who's here?

Thank you. It's a very very very Let's clap hands for that. Please clap hands for that. No, no, a bit louder, please. Very, very, very good question. Very good question. It has taken us and I want to thank you for that question. It has taken us four years to be where we are. And you know they say we took a unanimous decision in CAF you 100%. And I'll tell you why. Because if you think the problem of where we are now, those questions you were asking were issues that are just relevant now. Those were problems that I had to ask myself. I had to be the one who had to be convinced over the last three years. Now let's go. Let me start with the super league. The super league is something that we started a pilot with the club football and it went very well. We had proposals which were part of the plan. These numbers you were talking about the 200 million was part of revenue and why we didn't proceed as quickly as we did is because the partners that were giving us money they were not giving us the sort of deals that we thought we would be happy with. So, and that's why we then took the 1 billion. Okay, now you talk about 200 million, I'm talking about $1 billion for the national teams and we took the focus there because we knew that that would put pressure on the clubs. But let me tell you something else that's more important. We have significantly increased the African Champions League, the club football and made that significantly better. We've increased the confederations prize money competition. We spent $13 million which has never happened. gave money to each one of those clubs and so we are satisfied you know I've got people in CAF who say there are some journalists who they they in the questions they ask it's almost like they're talking for a constituency and they're trying to embarrass and disgrace and they're trying to they've got loyalties now I don't care I'm not interested in I'm interested in what you ask and my duty is to respond to those. So it's not the president of CAF. It is the 54 nations in Africa who know football, I would say with all humility, much better than those who are not in the day-to-day involvement in the challenges about the infrastructure, the stadiums and the money and the that we need to pay for the players. So, so we are absolutely satisfied where you are wrong. Absolutely wrong. And your facts are incorrect.

Keep quiet. I asked you a question and I kept quiet. So don't interrupt me. So what I'm saying to you is where you are absolutely wrong is the revenue of the AFCON is significantly less than the revenue that we have implemented for the African Nations League and we will be launching it in the next few years. So we are absolutely convinced that we are not going to adhere to a competition simply because it has been there for the past few years and where you are also talking absolute nonsense is to say to me that we will run Africa for Europe. Absolute rubbish. It's nonsense. You're insulting us. We run Africa for Africa and our job is to listen to people like yourself and various others and whether you're objective or not is irrelevant. But when you've got 54 nations in Africa saying that the African Nations League is world class, it doesn't matter how you look at African football. When I became president member associations were getting 200 thousand in fact it was more like 150 we've increased it to 200 they're getting 400,000 now and we have to take decisions that you know from a populist perspective maybe regarded as being unpopular but from a beneficial perspective what does this mean for African football every single one of our 54 presidents say this is the best things that has happened and I'm confident over the years the results of what we are doing will speak for themselves. Any other questions?

Well, you know, we these meetings should take place more often. And they should take this more often because I think we have a duty as well to not just keep you informed but also what you are asking is not just

What you are saying is what many people on the ground are saying. But let me tell you something: we have to free ourselves as Africans. We have to have more confidence in ourselves and not believe that whenever we take a decision, it's about FIFA says this or Europe says this. It shows lack of confidence in ourselves. Many times FIFA comes with recommendations. We say we listen to what you say, we disagree. It's not going to happen. Just like we go at times with recommendations to FIFA. They say we listen to what you say, we disagree. It's not going to happen. We go to Europe, we make recommendations, they say we listen, we disagree. They make recommendations to us and we say we listen to what you say, we disagree. At the end of the day, we have a duty to you and we have a duty to the ordinary African football supporter and lover. We can think we're doing all the right things, but if our people... I don't know, do you need a translator? You understand what I'm saying, madame?

So, you know, we can be convinced we're doing all the right things, but it's more important that ordinary football people on the continent are convinced that we are doing the right things. And you know, the decisions we have taken have taken many, many years. Let me give you a bad example. My sole responsibility, primary responsibility, is African football. Now, you've got an agreement between CAF and FIFA which has not kept the whole world in the year of the World Cup, that period June-July, you can't have a competition. So what happens then? Because this year, June-July has been put aside 20, 30, 40 years for the World Cup. So we have to have a competition this current AFCON. It has to take place this year at all costs. The only time you have is December, January. Now comes a problem. The European clubs say we are not going to release our players because we spend hundreds of... we spend billions of dollars on these players. We're not going to release them. And we say we don't care what you say. You're going to release them. So, but we need allies. We then need to go and engage with other confederations because I think they've got a... you know, the family owns a football club, so their concerns, I understand them. But my duty, my number one duty, is Africa. So I just want to conclude that for us, it's not AFCON every four years the way it's been structured. It's AFCON every year. No, no, no. It's AFCON every year. You can say no until tomorrow. It doesn't change it. It's AFCON every year. We have in this current competition, Morocco, it's... we've got about 28 days that has been allocated. The African Nations League, the window period is going to be 22 for that period. And the difference is we are convinced, contrary to what you think, to have Nigeria play Ghana in either Abidjan or Lagos, it's good because it builds the local rivalries. To have Cameroon playing Cote d'Ivoire there rather than playing them in Morocco. When you've got Cameroon playing Cote d'Ivoire here, you don't have the same attendance of supporters. When you've got them playing at home, the stadiums are full. The sponsors are keen. It doesn't only help the national team, it helps the club football. So, I agree with you. As I said to you, money is important, but nothing in life is only about money. It's about the quality of football. It's about what you said, the cultural significance. And we are absolutely satisfied. I'm convinced that... you know, we've looked at this over the last three years. We are convinced, and you will take time over time to realize that what we have done is definitely in the interest of African football. Okay, next question.