CAF President Patrice Motsepe has set an ambitious target for African football, emphasizing that an African national team must eventually win the FIFA World Cup. Speaking at the CAF Strategy Conference in Santa Maria on Sal Island, Cape Verde, Motsepe highlighted Africa's growing strength in the sport. He noted that African teams have shown they can compete with the world's strongest nations and should now aim for football's biggest prize.
The CAF Strategy Conference, which ran from October 7 to 9, brought together presidents of CAF's 54 member associations, national team coaches, technical leaders, and international football experts. The conference aimed to discuss the future of the game across the continent, with a focus on improving football structures, including national federations, administration, and refereeing. Motsepe stressed that greater investment in these areas must ultimately produce stronger results and world-class football structures.
Africa's collective performance at the 2026 World Cup was a central theme at the conference. A record 10 African countries competed in the tournament, with nine reaching the knockout stages. CAF has analyzed these performances to inform its planning for the 2030 World Cup. Motsepe also highlighted the increase in CAF grants to its 54 member associations, which have risen from just over $200,000 to around $700,000.
Motsepe reiterated CAF's backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of next year's presidential election. He stated that all 54 CAF member associations had unanimously decided to give Infantino "unconditional support," citing FIFA's significant investment in African football. Infantino reported that FIFA had invested around $1 billion in Africa through 124 FIFA Forward projects over the past decade.
The CAF president also expressed confidence in preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Despite acknowledging challenges during recent inspection visits, Motsepe maintained that CAF is committed to working with all three countries to deliver a successful tournament. The competition is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The strategy conference continued with discussions on what African teams did well at the 2026 World Cup and what must improve before 2030. FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger was among those expected to lead these discussions. The conference aimed to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance African football's competitiveness on the global stage.
Motsepe's call for an African nation to win the World Cup is a significant statement of ambition for African football. With continued investment in national associations, refereeing, and football development, CAF aims to strengthen the continent's position in the sport. The 2030 World Cup will be an important target for African teams, and the conference's discussions will inform CAF's planning and strategy for the tournament.
Key points
- CAF President Patrice Motsepe wants an African nation to win the FIFA World Cup.
- African football structures require improvement, including national federations, administration, and refereeing.
- FIFA has invested around $1 billion in Africa through 124 FIFA Forward projects over the past decade.
