The second day of the CAF Strategy Conference wrapped up on Thursday, 8 October 2026, in Sal, Santa Maria, Cabo Verde, with all 54 member associations of the Confédération Africaine de Football represented under the chairmanship of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe.

The session drew two high-profile guests: Cabo Verde Head of State Dr Janira Hopffer Almada and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, both of whom addressed delegates during the opening proceedings.

What's on the agenda for day three

The conference resumes on Friday, 9 October 2026, from 09h00 local time (10h00 GMT / 13h00 Cairo time) with a headline panel discussion on the lessons learned from the FIFA World Cup 2026.

FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, will share the stage with three coaches who guided African national teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026: Cabo Verde's Bubista, Egypt's Hossam Hassan, and DR Congo's Sébastien Desabre.

The conference's core mission

A central goal of the CAF Strategy Conference is to raise the standard of football across all 54 member associations to a world-class, self-sustaining level — and to ensure CAF competitions remain globally competitive.

Over recent years, CAF has channelled hundreds of millions of US dollars into football development across the continent. That investment has taken several forms: higher annual subventions to member associations and zonal unions, a growing portfolio of new sponsorships and commercial partnerships, and improved broadcast agreements with television and other media partners.

CAF has also made consistent strides in raising the quality of its broadcast output, ensuring African football reaches wider audiences and generates greater commercial returns for the game on the continent.