By Dayo Awoniyi
In a remarkable show of generosity and leadership, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has donated his entire salaries from both FIFA and CAF to employees of the continental football governing body, Nigeria Footballng reports.
The South African billionaire and philanthropist said the gesture was aimed at motivating and appreciating CAF staff, many of whom reportedly earn significantly less than their peers in other global football organizations.
Motsepe, who has led CAF since 2021, explained that his decision reflects his gratitude for the dedication and resilience of staff members who continue to work under challenging conditions.
“This is my way of recognizing the hard work, loyalty, and commitment of everyone contributing to the success and stability of African football,” Motsepe was quoted as saying.
Since assuming leadership, Motsepe has driven sweeping reforms within CAF — stabilizing its finances, strengthening governance structures, and prioritizing transparency and inclusivity across African football administration.
His collaboration with FIFA has also seen increased support for development programs across member associations, focusing on grassroots football and administrative capacity-building.
The move has drawn widespread praise from within African football circles, with many commending Motsepe for setting a new standard of servant leadership and reaffirming his commitment to building a more transparent and people-centered CAF.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
