Africa's football leadership is set to converge on Santa Maria, Sal Island, in Cabo Verde from 07 to 09 October 2026 for the CAF Strategy Conference — a gathering convened under CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe to chart the future direction of the continent's game.

The three-day conference will draw together the Presidents of CAF's 54 Member Associations, CAF Executive Committee members, Zonal Union Presidents, senior Men's, Women's, and Youth National Team coaches, and international football experts. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is also expected to attend.

A record World Cup as the backdrop

The timing of the conference carries considerable weight. African nations produced their strongest collective showing at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with 10 teams participating and nine advancing to the knockout stage. Morocco reached the quarter-finals, and several nations recorded historic milestones throughout the tournament.

Those performances have generated a wealth of technical and strategic lessons, and the conference will serve as the primary forum for translating them into concrete action ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2030.

Three days, three areas of focus

Proceedings open on Wednesday, 07 October with the CAF Development Committee programme, which will examine coaching, youth development, technical structures, and long-term sustainable football programmes across the continent's Member Associations.

Thursday, 08 October shifts the focus to the Member Associations' Strategy Meeting, where CAF leadership and Member Association Presidents will discuss how to build stronger football structures, increase the self-sufficiency of African football, and raise the global competitiveness of CAF competitions.

The final day, Friday, 09 October, places Africa's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign under the microscope. Coaches who led African teams at the tournament will share first-hand insights alongside international experts, dissecting what worked, what needs improvement, and how those lessons can drive even stronger results in 2030.

Coaching development in the spotlight

A particularly prominent theme will be the rise of African coaches on the world stage. Six African coaches led continental teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and the conference will explore how to create greater opportunities for African technical talent at the highest level.

The discussions will also build on the technical review conducted after the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023, widening the scope beyond match analysis to encompass governance, sustainability, and long-term strategic planning.

CAF aims to turn the momentum of Africa's recent progress into practical steps that strengthen football across the continent and lay a solid foundation for 2030 and beyond.