CAF brings together all 54 member associations for major African football summit

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will hold a strategic conference on the island of Sal in Cape Verde from 7 to 9 October, with representatives from across the continent and the wider international game due to attend.

The event will take place in Santa Maria and is expected to include the presidents of all 54 national associations affiliated to CAF, presidents of continental federations, members of the CAF Executive Committee, national team coaches and international experts.

The summit follows Africa’s notable presence at the 2026 World Cup. Ten African teams took part in the tournament, with nine progressing to the final stages, giving the continent’s football a significant boost on the international scene.

A major part of the conference will be devoted to examining that performance. Delegates will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the participating teams and consider how the experience can inform preparations for future global competitions, including the 2030 World Cup.

The discussions will also focus on the long-term development and sustainability of African football. Topics are set to include player development, coach education, the growth of competitions and the creation of programmes designed to improve the competitiveness of national teams and African clubs.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is expected to attend, alongside the coaches of the African national teams involved at the 2026 World Cup. Coaches from a number of other CAF member associations will also be present.

The gathering will include several leading figures from world football. They include the FIFA Technical Study Group, led by Frenchman Arsene Wenger, as well as the coaches of the African women’s national teams qualified for the 2027 World Cup and coaches of teams competing at the Under-17 World Cup.

CAF wants the meeting to turn lessons from recent international competitions into practical recommendations and programmes. Those measures will cover talent development, the creation of a technical framework, improved preparation systems and stronger institutional capacity within national associations.

CAF’s leadership will also use the conference to review its current strategy for raising the status of African football globally. That review will include efforts to strengthen the independence of its resources, develop its competitions and increase the continent’s ability to compete at the highest level.

The decision to stage the event in Cape Verde carries particular significance because of the national team’s campaign at the 2026 World Cup. That run helped highlight the progress of football across the continent and made the country an appropriate venue for the conference.