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SWAHILI TODAY

CAF

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is the administrative and controlling body for association football in Africa. Established on February 8, 1957, in Khartoum, Sudan, CAF was founded by the national associations of Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Africa. It was a pioneering institution of Pan-Africanism, formed during the height of the continent’s independence movements to provide Africa with a unified voice in global sports. Today, headquartered in 6th of October City, Egypt, CAF is the largest of FIFA’s six continental confederations, representing 54 member associations and serving a fanbase of over one billion people.

CAF is responsible for the organization and management of all major continental football competitions. Its flagship tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, celebrated for its vibrant display of talent and cultural pride. At the club level, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup represent the pinnacle of professional success for teams across the continent. Beyond competition, CAF’s mission is to foster regional unity, invest in grassroots development, and elevate the standard of African football on the global stage. Governed by its Executive Committee and led by the CAF President, the organization continues to drive the “African Renaissance” in sport, ensuring that the continent remains a central powerhouse in the world’s most popular game.

Quick facts about CAF

  1. Founded on February 8, 1957, in Khartoum, Sudan, by just four nations; Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Africa, making it older than the European Championship (Euro) format.
  2. At its inaugural founding meeting, CAF instantly made history by expelling South Africa after the country's delegation insisted on sending an all-white squad or an all-Black squad rather than an integrated team, turning CAF into the first international sports body to enforce anti-Apartheid sanctions.
  3. In November 2020, sitting CAF President Ahmad Ahmad was banned from all football activity by FIFA after an ethics investigation found him guilty of abusing his office, misappropriating funds (including a controversial $830,000 Tactical Steel equipment deal), and distributing cash gifts to association heads.
  4. A brutal 2020 independent PwC audit ordered by FIFA exposed a $24 million black hole in CAF's balance sheets, revealing that millions of dollars in FIFA development grants were distributed in untraceable cash payments directly to national association chiefs.
  5. After terrorists ambushed the Togo national team bus in Cabinda, Angola, during the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, killing three people, Togo withdrew from the tournament to mourn; in a heavily condemned administrative decision, CAF banned Togo from the next two AFCON editions for "political interference" before sports arbitration forced CAF to retract the ban.

News about CAF

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