Morocco’s qualification for the semi-finals of the World Cup (Qatar-2022) testifies to the strong improvement in the competitiveness of African football at the global level, said the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe.
“Morocco’s qualification for the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is the first such feat achieved by an African nation. It demonstrates a strong improvement in the competitiveness of African football at the global level and allows us to believe that our objective, that an African nation wins the World Cup, is within reach”, underlined Patrice Motsepe, Thursday in Abidjan, where hold the work of the 45th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF.
Motsepe, who was speaking to Gianni Infantino, head of FIFA, the presidents of African Federations including Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), said he was proud of the historic results obtained by Morocco, as well as well as the performances of Senegal, Cameroon, Tunisia and Ghana, during the Qatari World Cup.
In addition, the CAF president highlighted the success of the CAN (U23), organized in Morocco and won by the Lionceaux de l’Atlas against Egypt 2-1.
He also highlighted that a “record audience of around 46,000 people attended the final of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (“Women’s CAN”) Morocco 2022 in Rabat, welcoming Nigeria’s qualification , Zambia, Morocco and South Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup (Australia and New Zealand 2023).
“We firmly believe that the success and growth of football on the African continent depends on the success and growth of the game in each country of our Member Associations,” he noted. For this, he explains, the creation of partnerships with sponsors, investors and governments remains essential for the development of competitiveness and the growth of football in every African country.
The boss of CAF has indicated that the apex body of African football is now receiving more and more positive and encouraging feedback, testifying that it is now perceived and respected as a Confederation which implements and adheres global best practices in governance and auditing.
“Over the past two years, the + prize money + of the majority of CAF competitions have increased,” he noted positively, adding that this has contributed to improving the quality and competitiveness of CAF competitions.
“I am convinced that the changes and reforms we have introduced within CAF and African football will make it in the countries of our Member Associations and on the African continent more competitive and autonomous at the global level”, he said. he throws.
“Indeed, the future of African football is bright,” concluded Patrice Motsepe.