Cape Verde President, Patrice Motsepe headline CAF Strategy Conference in Sal

Cape Verde Head of State, Her Excellency Dr Janira Hopffer Almada, will join CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and other prominent football leaders at the opening of the CAF Strategy Conference on Thursday, October 8, 2026, in Santa Maria on Sal Island.

The opening session is scheduled for 09:00 local time, equivalent to 10:00 GMT, 13:00 Cairo time and 12:00 CAT, and will be open to the media and public. The session will also be broadcast live on CAF TV via YouTube.

Cape Verde is hosting the landmark gathering after making history at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada, where African teams delivered their strongest collective performance at the global tournament.

The conference will provide a platform for African football’s key decision-makers to examine the continent’s progress and develop a strategic pathway for further growth both on and off the pitch.

Presidents of all 54 CAF Member Associations, Zonal Union Presidents, members of the CAF Executive Committee, national team coaches, technical directors and leading international football experts are expected to participate in the conference.

A major focus of the gathering will be the performance of African national teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For the first time, the continent’s World Cup showing will form the centrepiece of a dedicated CAF strategic meeting aimed at turning the lessons and experiences from the tournament into a clear roadmap towards the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Africa sent a record 10 teams to the 2026 World Cup, with nine of them progressing to the knockout stages. The unprecedented performance has provided CAF with an opportunity to assess what worked, identify areas requiring further improvement and explore ways of ensuring African teams can consistently compete at the highest level.

Beyond national team performances, the conference will also address the broader development of football across the continent.

Following the opening ceremony, participants will move into closed-door sessions, including the 54 Member Associations’ Strategy Meeting. The discussions will focus on strengthening national football associations, improving football administration and building sustainable structures capable of supporting long-term sporting development.

The gathering is therefore expected to bring together political leadership, football administrators, coaches and technical experts in an effort to shape a more coordinated approach to the future of African football.

With the 2030 FIFA World Cup already emerging as a key long-term target, the CAF Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde will seek to transform the momentum generated by Africa’s historic 2026 campaign into concrete strategies for continued progress on the international stage.