The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that Cape Verde will host its Strategy Symposium from October 7-9. The event, set to take place in Santa Maria on the island of Sal, will gather 54 heads of member associations, union presidents, CAF executive committee members, national team coaches, and international football experts. This symposium aims to chart the future of African football.
The symposium will focus on two main areas: enhancing football development and sustainability across Africa and analyzing the performance of African teams in the 2026 World Cup. Participants will discuss CAF's ongoing strategy to elevate African football to a global level and make it self-sustaining. The event is expected to draw high-profile attendees, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The CAF Strategy Symposium will provide a platform for African football stakeholders to share insights and experiences. Ten African teams participated in the 2026 World Cup, a record for the continent. Nine of these teams advanced to the knockout stage, demonstrating the growing strength and competitiveness of African football globally.
The event will also bring together coaches of African national women's teams that qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup, as well as coaches of under-17 teams participating in the World Cup. CAF believes that gathering various levels and generations of African football will facilitate the sharing of lessons learned from high-level international competitions.
CAF's decision to host the symposium in Cape Verde is significant, given the country's impressive performance in the 2026 World Cup. This event comes at a pivotal moment for African football, following the continent's record-breaking participation in the World Cup. The symposium will provide valuable insights to support Africa's ambitions in the 2030 World Cup.
The gathering will enable participants to discuss strategies for continued growth and development of African football. Key topics will include enhancing competitions and building sustainable football structures across member associations. The symposium is expected to yield actionable recommendations for CAF and its member associations.
The CAF Strategy Symposium promises to be a landmark event in shaping the future of African football. With its focus on development, sustainability, and strategic planning, the event is poised to have a lasting impact on the sport in Africa. Key stakeholders will converge to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in football management and development.
Key points
- CAF's Strategy Symposium will focus on enhancing football development and sustainability in Africa.
- The event will analyze the performance of African teams in the 2026 World Cup.
- The symposium aims to shape the future of African football and support its growth and development.
