CAF Strategy Conference opens in Cabo Verde with Technical and Development Committee meeting
The CAF Strategy Conference got underway in Santa Maria, Sal Island, Cabo Verde on Wednesday with the CAF Technical and Development Committee meeting, opening three days of discussions aimed at shaping the next phase of African football.
CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu was among those in attendance as technical officials, former internationals and football development experts began examining key areas that can strengthen the game across CAF’s 54 Member Associations.
The opening meeting places technical development at the heart of the Conference before attention turns to the CAF Member Association Presidents’ Strategic Meeting on Thursday and a detailed review of Africa’s performances at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Friday.
Among the prominent football figures involved in the Technical and Development discussions is former Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell, one of Africa’s most respected former internationals.
Bell is a member of CAF’s Committee for Technical Development, bringing decades of experience from a career in which he represented Cameroon at the highest level and played extensively in African and European football.
Also involved is former DR Congo international defender Herita Ilunga, who played at the highest level in Europe during a career that included spells with French club Saint-Étienne and English Premier League side West Ham United.
Ilunga adds the perspective of a former elite player to discussions about how African football can improve its technical structures and player-development pathways.
Development first on opening day
The decision to begin the Conference with technical and development matters reflects one of the central objectives of the gathering.
CAF has identified stronger coaching structures, youth development, technical education and sustainable football programmes as essential to improving the competitiveness of African football at every level.
Recent figures underline the scale of CAF’s investment in this area, with 19,685 coaches certified across Africa between 2021 and 2026, including coaches at CAF C, B, A and Pro Licence levels.
The opening-day discussions are therefore designed to look beyond immediate tournament results and consider the systems required to produce better players, stronger coaches and more competitive national teams over the long term.
Building from Africa’s World Cup progress
The three-day Conference comes after Africa’s strongest collective showing at the FIFA World Cup.
A record 10 African countries competed at the 2026 tournament, with nine progressing to the knockout stages, providing CAF with an important opportunity to examine what worked and how that progress can be sustained towards 2030.
CAF has structured the Conference around two broad priorities: strengthening football development and sustainability across the continent, and analysing the performances of Africa’s World Cup representatives to prepare for further progress at the next global finals.
Thursday’s programme will bring together Presidents of CAF’s Member Associations for strategic discussions, while Friday will feature a high-level technical review of the World Cup campaign.
That session will include Arsène Wenger, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, alongside coaches including Mohamed Ouahbi, Bubista, Hossam Hassan, Sébastien Desabre and Carlos Queiroz, who will share lessons from Africa’s 2026 World Cup experience.
With the opening Technical and Development Committee meeting now underway, the focus in Sal has shifted from celebrating Africa’s recent progress to identifying the practical steps required to turn it into sustained success across the continent.
