The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has entered into a strategic partnership with the European Commission (EC), naming the EC an official partner of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, both men’s and women’s, set to be hosted in Morocco.
The partnership was formalised on Sunday in Cairo, where CAF President Patrice Motsepe and European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela signed the agreement.
As part of the collaboration, the European Commission will lend its support to the men’s AFCON, scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, as well as the Women’s AFCON, taking place from July 5 to July 26 this year. The agreement also extends to the African Schools Football Championship.
Motsepe welcomed the partnership, calling it “a recognition of the significant progress that has been made in CAF and the respect that emanates from the governance, ethics, and transparency policies that we have introduced, as well as our zero tolerance of corruption.”
He emphasised that the partnership reflects a mutual commitment to advancing African football and deepening “the expansion of the cultural, trade and investment relationships between our two continents.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also underscored the strength of the relationship between Africa and Europe, stating that they are “partners of choice.”
For the European Commission, “this partnership is about creating bonds, about empowering young people, local communities, and entire regions. Sport and football are part of it,” Leyen said.
The collaboration aims to foster long-term development by creating new opportunities, such as employment, better healthcare, enhanced public services, and cross-continental partnerships.
A standout component of the deal is the European Commission’s support for the CAF African Schools Football Championship, which Jozef Síkela highlighted would benefit up to 33,000 schools across the continent.
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