CAF and European Commission conclude Historic Partnership
The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) and the European Commission (“EC”) today concluded a historic agreement which provides for the EC to partner with the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (“AFCON) 2025 and 2027, TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024 and CAF African Schools Football Championship.
The agreement was signed today by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Mr Jozef Síkela, in Cairo, Egypt.
The President of CAF Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “CAF is delighted with the agreement that we signed today with the European Commission in terms of which the EC will partner with the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and 2027, the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024 and the CAF African Schools Football Championship. This Partnership is also a recognition of the significant progress that has been made in CAF and the respect that emanates from the governance, ethics and transparency policies that we have introduced, as well as our zero tolerance of corruption. Our Partnership reflects the mutual commitment of CAF and the European Commission to the development and grow African Schools and Youth Football, and the expansion of the cultural, trade and investment relationships between our two continents. I would like to express my gratitude to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Jozef Síkela and the EC for this exciting Partnership.”
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stressed the strong bond between Africa and Europe: “The European Union and Africa are partners of choice. The European Union is the first trading partner and the fist investor in Africa. Global Gateway is the Africa-Europe plan with more than EUR 150 billion investment, financing infrastructural projects abroad. But it is more. It is about creating bonds, about empowering young people, local communities, and entire regions. Sport and football are part of it.”
Mr Síkela commented: “Our Global Gateway strategy is about turning potential into opportunity. By partnering with CAF, we’re making Europe’s partnership with Africa more visible, more tangible, and more relevant - especially for young people. This is not just about sport. It’s about keeping kids in school, giving them role models, and creating the conditions to tap their potential - on and off the pitch.
“The main focus of our cooperation with Africa is creating new opportunities – new jobs, quality health system, improved public services, new partnerships. Therefore, a key element of this agreement is the support to the CAF African Schools Championship, which will reach up to 33,000 schools across Africa.”
Through this partnership, CAF and the European Commission will collaborate closely together to align their development initiatives rooted in their share values of inclusion, fair play, and opportunity across the Continent.
This agreement will also help amplify awareness of the EC Global Gateway projects while ensuring football remains an avenue for growth and development.
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