Moroccan football administrator Fouzi Lekjaa was elected First Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during an executive committee meeting held in Accra on Saturday.
Lekjaa, 54, is highly respected across Africa for his role in developing football infrastructure in Morocco. Born in Berkane, near the Algerian border, he also serves as a member of the FIFA Council, the top decision-making body of world football.
Having previously served as a CAF vice-president from 2017, Lekjaa returns to the position after a gap of several years. He balances his football leadership duties with a senior post in the Moroccan government.
Many within African football circles view the Royal Moroccan Football Federation president as a potential successor to CAF president Patrice Motsepe of South Africa. Motsepe, a 63-year-old billionaire, was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term last month after first assuming office in 2021. CAF statutes limit presidents to three terms, a rule introduced following Cameroonian Issa Hayatou’s 29-year leadership.
Four other officials were also elected as CAF vice-presidents: Ghana’s Kurt Okraku, Gabon’s Pierre-Alain Mounguengui, Congo’s Bestine Ditabala, and Mozambique’s Feizal Sidat.
Notably, former Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto’o, who had recently joined the CAF executive committee, was among the candidates who missed out. Eto’o, 44, is renowned for his record 18 goals at Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and illustrious club career, which included spells at Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea. The four-time African Footballer of the Year has been serving as president of Cameroon’s national football federation since 2021.
