CAF Head Praises Moroccan Football Feat on International Stage

Praia – President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe praised Moroccan football’s performance on the international stage on Thursday in Cape Verde, acknowledging that the Kingdom remains among African nations that have contributed to the sport’s prominence across the continent.

Speaking at the CAF Strategy Conference, held October 7-9 in Santa Maria on the Cape Verdean island of Sal, Motsepe expressed his pride in the African national teams that participated in the 2026 World Cup, noting that the performances of the African representatives highlighted the quality of football on the continent.

Referring to Africa’s previous appearances in major international competitions, he also cited Morocco’s run at the World Cup in Qatar as one of the proudest moments in African football.

According to Motsepe, these results should encourage the continent’s federations to continue investing in training, academies, and the development of young talent.

In this regard, he reaffirmed his ambition to see an African team win the World Cup, calling on member associations to begin preparing now for upcoming international tournaments.

Furthermore, the CAF president spoke of strengthening transparency, integrity, and the credibility of refereeing to support African football’s promotion, noting that the credibility of competitions depends in particular on the trust placed in referees and their ability to enforce the rules impartially.

In the same vein, Motsepe called for enhanced training for referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) operators as part of efforts to improve the quality of competitions, emphasizing the need to translate commitments to governance and development into concrete actions and measurable results.

The CAF Strategy Conference brings together representatives from the 54 member associations and several African football officials to review reforms and development priorities for the sector. It is dedicated to strengthening the governance and development of African football, as well as analyzing the performance of the continent’s national teams at the 2026 World Cup, with an eye toward upcoming international competitions.