Ivorian FA boss fully behind calls for Patrice Motsepe’s second term at CAF

Speaking to SABC Sport from his posh FIF head office in Treichville in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Diallo says Motsepe has transformed African football in the last four years, so much so that continuity is needed at CAF.

CAF will go into elections again next year for the presidential and other Exco positions. Motsepe is yet to indicate if he will be going for the next term, but Diallo says he’s entirely behind him.

"Yes, he must go, certainly, for me if he's candidate, I think there's nobody who can contest against him. If he decides to go, he will win, I'm sure of that, we'll support him. You know yesterday, I was with him in my president's house, he was received by the head of state and my head of state said to him 'Patrice, you do a lot for my country, that's why I give you this award. This is in recognition of what you do for the country.' So, I'm the first soldier of Patrice, if he wants to go somewhere, I will go with him," Diallo said.

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Diallo, who worked very closely with Motsepe before, during, and after the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Côte D’Ivoire, says he’s learned so much from him during this period. He describes the South African billionaire and mining mogul as passionate, positive, supportive, and very honest.

"You know, Patrice is full of passion, as soon as he decided to enter into football, he decided to give all his passion to football and from that moment, I think he gave a lot of power to all the football in Africa,” he added.

“Patrice is a gift for African football and he's very honest, very straight and very positive. He's always trying to find the best part of everybody, even when it's tough, he tries to give you strength. I've never seen someone who's positive like the president and when he's like that, everybody wants to go with him."

FIF is part of the powerful WAFU-B zone in West Africa, which is led by Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okrakru.

It is one of the most influential zonal unions in CAF elections.

FIF also received more than R250 million in legacy funding from CAF after hosting the most successful AFCON in African football's history.