CAF President Patrice Motsepe described the new deal with the European Union as a proud moment that will accelerate the growth of football and youth development across Africa.
The agreement, signed in Cairo with European Commissioner Jozef Síkela, will see the EU co-sponsor the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and 2027, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, and the African Schools Football Championship.
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Motsepe praised South Africa and Morocco for their success in nurturing young talent and said he planned to watch Egypt’s match with Nigeria to scout youth players.
“It’s a moment of great pride for us because the two nations, South Africa and Morocco, have invested, trained, and developed some of the most talented young players,” Motsepe stated, highlighting their role as continental pioneers.
“I planned to also attend the earlier match between Egypt and Nigeria. African football is growing exponentially. There’s a huge amount of good progress that’s taking place.” He stressed that football offers more than entertainment; it teaches ethics, values, and governance to Africa’s youth.
He called the EU partnership “historic,” noting it reflects a shared commitment to invest in young players and strengthen cultural and economic ties between Europe and Africa.
“So we are very proud, and that’s why this partnership with the European Union is a historic agreement and an expression of mutual commitment to investment in youth.”
The deal also aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway plan, which has earmarked over €150 billion for projects in Africa, including sporting and educational initiatives.
Motsepe said his role was to lay a strong foundation for future CAF leaders and ensure that African football continues its rapid progress.
“I always saw my role as laying that foundation so that those who take over from me should continue on this legacy that all of us are building because football plays an important role in the growth and development of our youth, and also an important role in the sort of values, the sort of moral and ethical standards and governance and legality that we want to uphold.”
He thanked EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Jozef Síkela for their support and looked forward to leveraging the partnership to boost facilities, governance, and grassroots programmes across the continent.
African football’s governing body has embraced this global collaboration as a milestone that will help discover and develop talent from school-level competitions to the highest international stages. The EU’s backing is expected to enhance the visibility of Africa’s premier tournaments and reinforce CAF’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
