FERWAFA Vice President Richard MUGISHA participated in yesterday’s CAF Strategy Conference in Sal Island, Cabo Verde, where discussions focused on making football across CAF’s 54 Member Associations world-class and financially self-sustaining, while enhancing the global competitiveness of CAF competitions.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe highlighted the progress made in developing African football over the years and reaffirmed his ambition to see an African nation win the FIFA World Cup, with the 2030 edition, to be co-hosted by Morocco, among the key targets.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for everyone and outlined FIFA’s efforts to develop football infrastructure and strengthen institutional capacity through initiatives such as the FIFA Forward Programme. He also noted that FIFA Forward funding could potentially double, subject to approval at the next FIFA Congress.

Addressing the challenge of hosting international matches at home, Infantino revealed that, of the 26 African nations that were unable to host their home matches on their own soil approximately two years ago, 12 can now do so, reducing the number to 14.

The Acting President of Cabo Verde, Dr Janira Hopffer Almada, attended the conference as Guest of Honour.