The President of the Confederation of African Football says he believes Bafana Bafana should aspire to be ranked in the top ten of the world, given what the game of football means to the people of South Africa.
Dr Patrice Motsepe was speaking exclusively to SABC News ahead of Bafana’s one-all draw against Czechia in Atlanta on Thursday.
He also spoke about the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, the future of Somali referee Omar Artan, and how soccer unites people, particularly in the current context of South Africa’s relations on the African continent.
The CAF and Sundowns boss has high hopes for his country’s football team.
“We are very hopeful, and South Africa has got immensely talented football players. And we also set very high targets and have ambitions for ourselves. So, we’re really behind South Africa, as much as we’ve been behind all the ten African countries that have represented the continent, and it just makes the need for consistent investment in our youth, in our academies, in our coaches, in our players. It just overemphasises that because at the highest level in the world, like in the FIFA World Cup, we have to compete against the best in the world and win and succeed.”
The World Cup expansion from 32 to 48 teams received some criticism that it diluted the tournament’s quality, leading to meaningless group-stage games, with the goal merely to maximise FIFA’s revenue.
“ No, no, I think it’s very good because football is about what happens on the field of play. And to make sure that the best from Africa can compete against the best in the world. But football also has a developmental obligation. We have to create jobs. We have to invest in our youth. We’ve got to use football to inspire our young boys and girls that if the football players can succeed in fulfilling their objectives, if you want to be a doctor, an engineer, or a technologist, take inspiration from the successes in football and other sports and also work. It’s about working hard and sacrificing and recognising that through hard work and sacrifice, you can. You can indeed achieve all of your dreams.”
With a record 10 African teams in the competition, Motsepe weighed in on the continent’s developmental prospects.
“ You know, I remember as a young, I don’t know, 6 or 7-year-old watching South African football, going to Orlando Stadium as a young nine-year-old and looking at what football has always meant to our people. I think part of our objective has to be that Bafana Bafana must be in the top ten in the world in football. It can be done. We have the talent. It just requires determination, the investment, and the hard work. That has to be one of our clear objectives. It takes time. We’ve got the football culture, and we’ve got the unique, God-given talent, and we’ll get there.”
He also expressed his pride in Somali referee Omar Artan, who was blocked from entering the United States to officiate in the World Cup but has since been named as the referee in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup in August between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.
“Actually, he got an award. Well, I don’t take all the credit. It’s all about everybody working together. And I’m enormously grateful because, you know, when I spoke to him and told him about what we’ve managed to achieve for him, he was very emotional. But it made us proud.”
Motsepe also commented on South Africa in the broader African context today. “ I will always be optimistic and confident about our people. And because South Africa is good, we’ve got exceptional people, caring people. We do, loving people and also people who think about how we can help others to make their lives better. And of course, for us, as I said, football has always been important to use football to unite our people from different racial backgrounds, different religious backgrounds, and also from different ethnic backgrounds in South Africa and on the continent.”
He reiterated that his ambitions to run for President of both FIFA and South Africa were zero. “ No. I said it. FIFA doesn’t excite me. I mean, I’ve had many, I don’t know. I’ve had many people say all sorts of things. Africa, excitedly. Enormously. Many good people will lead FIFA at the world level. I’m excited about the humble contribution. I mean.”
When asked if politics excites him. He answered;” Listen, I’ve said South Africa doesn’t need me.”
–SABC–
