CAF marks World Football Day with continued commitment to Youth Empowerment, Education and Schools Football
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The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) joined the global community in celebrating World Football Day reaffirming its dedication to harnessing the power of the game to drive social development, youth empowerment and education across the African continent.
At the heart of CAF’s commitment is the CAF African Schools Football Championship – an initiative championed by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and a flagship grassroots programme that continues to impact hundreds of thousands of young boys and girls.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship transcends the 90 minutes and is also focused on promoting life skills, teamwork, and leadership.
In recognition of football’s role in advancing global development, CAF’s Director of Member Associations and Executive Member of the United Nations’ Football for the Goals (FFTG) Advisory Board, Sarah Mukuna, recently participated in the UN Football for the Goals Forum, held over two days at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
During her presentation, Mukuna shared the transformational impact of CAF’s school-level programmes and how they align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — notably in areas of good health (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).
“Through the CAF African Schools Football Championship, we are building a movement that places education, inclusion, and empowerment at the heart of youth development. Our collaboration with the UN and other global partners strengthens our resolve to use football to shape a better, more equitable future for Africa’s children,” Mukuna said.
The Forum served as a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing between the six football confederations, UN Member States, and senior UN officials and other Members. CAF’s participation emphasized the CAF’s strategic approach to aligning football development with broader global goals, reaffirming Africa’s leadership in leveraging football as a driver of sustainable progress.
