CAF General Assembly in Kinshasa overshadowed by scheduling clash and health concerns

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that its 47th Ordinary General Assembly will take place in Kinshasa on 6 October 2025 under the leadership of CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe, bringing together the heads of all 54 member associations along with zonal union representatives.

However, the build-up to the gathering has been clouded by concerns over both timing and public health.

Clash with FIFA calendar
The choice of date has drawn criticism from several federation presidents, as the Assembly falls within the FIFA international window scheduled from 6 to 14 October.

This period is crucial for national teams competing in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Officials fear that travelling to the Congolese capital for the meeting could compromise their ability to monitor and support their squads during such an important stage of qualification.

Some federations have already suggested that the General Assembly be postponed to December and moved to Rabat, Morocco, where it could be held on the sidelines of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Advocates of this proposal argue that rescheduling would ease logistical difficulties and “avoid a race against time” between administrative duties and national team responsibilities.

Health situation raises concern
Adding to the challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported new Ebola cases in Bulape, located in Kasai province, approximately 800 kilometres from Kinshasa. As of 17 September, 48 infections and 31 deaths had been recorded.

While the outbreak remains geographically contained and no cases have been detected in Kinshasa, the news has prompted unease among sports officials travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Assembly.

Some federations are questioning whether hosting such a large gathering in Kinshasa remains advisable, even though the outbreak is far from the capital. The concerns highlight the sensitivity around health risks in large international meetings, particularly when delegations will be arriving from across the continent.

CAF seeks to reassure members
CAF has moved quickly to allay fears. In a letter sent to member federations, CAF secretary general Véron Mosengo-Omba stressed that the situation was under control and insisted that there was no immediate risk to delegates. He reaffirmed that no Ebola cases had been identified in Kinshasa itself.

The governing body also underlined its readiness to act if circumstances change. CAF confirmed it would relocate the Assembly should the health situation worsen in the host country, emphasising that the well-being of its members and participants remained a priority.

Balancing challenges
The dual challenges of timing and health risks have turned what is usually a routine annual gathering into a matter of wider debate. For CAF, the Assembly is a key platform for administrative decision-making and for fostering unity among its 54 members.

Yet the choice of date and venue has placed federations in a difficult position, forcing them to weigh football priorities against broader logistical and health considerations.

As things stand, the 47th Ordinary General Assembly remains scheduled for Kinshasa on 6 October. But with suggestions to move it to Rabat in December still under discussion and health concerns lingering in the background, uncertainty continues to hover over one of the most significant annual meetings in African football governance.