Motsepe, Infantino and Wenger Set for CAF Strategy Conference in Cape Verde

Posted : 21 September 2026

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will hold its Strategy Conference in Santa Maria, Sal Island, Cape Verde, from October 7 to 9, 2026. The three-day meeting will bring together the presidents of all 54 CAF Member Associations, Zonal Union leaders, CAF Executive Committee members, national team coaches and international football experts.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe will convene the conference as the organisation seeks to strengthen football development and sustainability across the continent. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to attend, while the FIFA Technical Study Group led by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger will contribute to the technical discussions.

The conference will focus on two main areas. The first is the development of stronger and more sustainable football structures across Africa, while the second is an assessment of the continent's performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ahead of the 2030 tournament.

Africa sent a record 10 national teams to the 2026 World Cup. Nine of those teams progressed from the group stage to the Round of 32, giving CAF a significant body of evidence to examine as it looks at the continent's progress and areas that require further development.

The 10 World Cup representatives and their coaches will take part in the conference. Coaches from the other 44 CAF Member Associations will also participate, allowing the discussions to extend beyond the teams that competed at the World Cup.

The programme will also cover women's and youth football. Coaches of African women's national teams that have qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup are expected to attend, along with coaches of African U-17 teams competing at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

CAF said the broad participation is intended to connect lessons from major international competitions with player development, coaching education and long-term national team planning. The discussions will also examine how African competitions can become more competitive internationally and how member associations can build sustainable football systems.

Cape Verde was selected as host after its historic appearance at the 2026 World Cup attracted international attention. FIFA records show the tournament was the country's first World Cup appearance, with the Blue Sharks reaching the Round of 32.

Motsepe had already announced plans for a technical conference after the World Cup to assess Africa's performances and develop recommendations for the 2030 tournament. CAF has also said it will continue investing in youth football, amateur football, professional leagues, national teams and coaching development across its 54 member associations.

The Cape Verde conference will therefore provide a platform for African football leaders to examine the lessons from the 2026 World Cup and discuss practical measures for improving competitions, developing talent and strengthening football structures before the next global tournament.

Motsepe, Infantino and Wenger Set for CAF Strategy Conference in Cape Verde

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