The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee met on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt, to address several key issues concerning the future of African football. The meeting focused on major competitions, governance reforms, commercial matters, and new development initiatives, with a series of decisions announced in an official statement released afterward.
Among the most significant outcomes was the ratification of CAF’s new Safety and Security regulations, aimed at improving matchday organization and ensuring better protection for players, officials, and supporters. The Executive Committee also confirmed the termination of the controversial CAF/Lagardère Sports contract, following an earlier decision by the Emergency Committee. This move marks a major step in CAF’s effort to restructure its commercial partnerships and strengthen financial transparency.
Institutional reforms were also high on the agenda. Members approved a new organizational chart along with draft changes to the administration and refereeing structures. The lists of CAF’s standing committees were validated, while projects to be financed through FIFA Forward funds for 2020 received the green light.
In addition, three new categories were introduced for the 2019 CAF Awards: Best African Interclub Player, Best African Club President, and a Social Recognition Award. These additions aim to broaden recognition within African football by honoring contributions both on and off the pitch.
Regarding competitions, several important decisions were taken. The recommendations for training and accommodation sites for the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon were approved, and the dates for the tournament’s final phase were officially set for April 4 to 25, 2020. The CAF Super Cup will be played on February 14 in Doha, Qatar.
CAF also confirmed that Africa’s representatives for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup will be the top three teams from the 2020/2021 CAF Champions League season. Furthermore, new formats for youth and women’s competitions, each expanded to 12 teams, were approved as part of efforts to develop the game across different age groups and genders. A call for bids to host the 2020 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be launched soon.
Due to weather considerations, the dates for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will be decided jointly by CAF and the host country. The committee also announced that CAF’s administration will now determine match dates, kick-off times, and venues for all competitions after consulting participating teams.
FIFA Secretary General and General Delegate for Africa, Fatma Samoura, presented an update on the joint FIFA-CAF reform roadmap, focusing on financial management, governance, and the professional organization of competitions. CAF President Ahmad Ahmad thanked her and FIFA’s team of experts for their support, with Executive Committee members echoing his appreciation.
The meeting concluded with a proposal from Samuel Eto’o, Special Advisor to the President, regarding the creation of a CAF Foundation. After his presentation, the committee agreed in principle to further explore the project. Preparations for the 28th CAF Awards ceremony, scheduled for January 7, 2020, in Egypt, were also reviewed. The date and venue of the next Executive Committee meeting will be announced later.
