The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the European Commission (EC) have announced a formal partnership that will see the EC backing several of CAF’s flagship tournaments — including upcoming editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and the CAF African Schools Football Championship.
The agreement was signed in Cairo on Monday by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, marking a new chapter in Euro-African cooperation — and one that brings development diplomacy to the heart of the continent’s most popular sport.
The deal provides a significant platform for the EC to promote its €150 billion Global Gateway investment programme, designed to boost infrastructure, connectivity and education across Africa. By aligning with CAF, the EC aims to tap into football’s ‘unmatched reach’ — particularly among young people — to deliver on its soft power and development goals.
“This partnership reflects the mutual commitment of CAF and the European Commission to the growth of African schools and youth football,” said Motsepe. “It’s also a recognition of the significant progress we’ve made in governance, ethics, and transparency. We’re not just building competitions — we’re building futures.”
The partnership will link the EC directly to CAF’s biggest stages: AFCON 2025 in Morocco and AFCON 2027, the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and the CAF African Schools Football Championship, which has ambitions to reach more than 33,000 schools across the continent.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen framed the agreement as part of a wider strategic bond between the continents: “The European Union is Africa’s largest trading partner and investor. But Global Gateway is more than just money — it’s about empowering young people and communities. Football is part of that.”
Síkela, who represented the EC at the signing ceremony, was more direct in linking the partnership to Europe’s broader political and economic aims. “This isn’t just about sport,” he said. “It’s about creating jobs, improving schools, and giving kids role models on and off the pitch. Football is the vehicle — but opportunity is the destination.”
Insideworldfootball.com
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