The Billion-Dollar Dream: Inside African Football's Power Play for Global Supremacy and 53% Revenue Growth
The 47th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, detailing the proceedings of the meeting held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The assembly involved multiple addresses, including welcoming remarks from the Vice President of the Congolese Football Federation Normalization Committee and the Prime Minister of the DRC, as well as speeches from CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who shared a personal anecdote connecting him to the DRC. Key procedural items included confirming the quorum and statutory compliance, approving previous assembly minutes, presenting the activity report, auditor statements, and the budget for 2025–2026, and discussing the growth and future investments in African football, particularly for youth and women's competitions, alongside showcasing promotional videos for upcoming tournaments like the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. Financial reporting highlighted a significant increase in revenues and the allocation of funds for member associations and clubs, demonstrating a focus on improving the commercial viability and governance of African football.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
We were there. Well, OK, we're not physically
there. But you felt the energy, didn't
you? Imagine it, 54 nations all
focused on one thing gathered inKinshasa.
It felt like a declaration, likeAfrican football saying we're
here and we're a global powerhouse now.
Absolutely. It wasn't your typical dry
procedural meeting. Far from it.
(00:20):
It felt more like, well, like the launch of a massive global
venture. We're diving deep today into
that meeting, the 47th Ordinary General Assembly of the
Confederation of African Football CAF.
And our mission really is to unpack what went down.
We're looking at how they're building this thing, you know,
the mix of proper governance, these huge financial goals, and
(00:41):
this really specific focus on bringing up new talent right
from the grassroots. Exactly.
We're chasing the story behind that rumored $1 million
valuation. How do they get there?
And understanding the sheer power of this viewership
numbers, they announced. Incredible numbers.
Right. And also verifying that the
whole structure, the foundation beneath it all, is solid, you
know, built on real diligence and transparency.
(01:03):
This felt bigger than just federation presidents meeting.
It felt like a statement of continental unity and, honestly,
commercial maturity. And the location Kinshasa, the
DRC that wasn't accidental was. It No, not at all.
Hosting it there was a deliberate, powerful choice.
They explicitly counted the DRC home for the assembly, and they
had this amazing moment where they said for this day, everyone
(01:26):
here from all 54 countries is Congolese.
It's this idea of shared identity, this cultural coming
together that really underpins the whole unified business plan
they're pushing. It grabbed you immediately and
think about the logistics simultaneous translation needed
in French, English, Arabic and Portuguese.
Just managing that tells you thescale of what they're trying to
(01:47):
do. Unite this incredibly diverse
continent under 1. Well, one big commercial banner
for football. And the tone right from the
start was set by Doctor Patrice Matseppe, the CAF president.
His message wasn't just about, you know, scores and leagues.
It was about identity on a global scale.
He kept hitting this point. Football's unique power is
(02:09):
bringing Africans together and then using that unity to show
the world really definitively that African football is in
motion and growing. It's like a cultural
repositioning effort. And the proof is right there in
the numbers, isn't it? For anyone still questioning
African football's global reach,well, the big number dropped.
The last AFCON, the Africa Cup of Nations, was watched by 1.4
(02:33):
billion people. Staggering.
It really is. That's not just a little bump,
it's the highest viewership they've ever had by a long shot.
And when we start talking about that $1 billion target, that 1.4
billion viewer number, that's the bedrock, it completely
changes the conversation for sponsors, for media partners.
It's not can you get eyes on this anymore is how fast can we
lock down the rights to this massive passionate audience.
(02:54):
It basically confirms African football isn't just a regional
thing, it's a global mega event brand right up there with the
Big South American or European tournaments just in terms of how
many people are watching. But it felt like it was about
more than just the audience size.
There was this real sense of belonging.
What's that? They kept emphasizing the unity
(03:15):
principle, he called it. He talked about how football
deliberately cuts across ethnic lines, racial divides, religious
differences. He reminded everyone how during
the last Chan tournament in EastAfrica, they all sort of became
Tanzanians, Ugandans and Kenyansfor a bit.
Yeah. I remember that.
Point And now in Kinshasa they were all Congolese and next year
(03:38):
they'll all be Nigerians. It's like this rolling temporary
Pan African identity created by the sport.
It's quite clever actually. It really is.
And that commitment to unity, itwas baked into the very
beginning of the assembly itself, the formal beginnings.
They started with a moment of silent prayer, but it wasn't
just a quick formality. They specifically acknowledged
God Almighty, Allah, Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad.
(04:00):
It felt like a really profound recognition of the continent's
main faiths, a public statement really, that divine guidance and
respect for spiritual diversity were going to be part of how
they operated, how they united Africa through football.
It set a very serious, inclusivetone.
Hashtag tag 1.2 host nation commitment and FIFA partnership.
(04:21):
Of course, pulling off an event like this needs serious
government backing, and the recognition of DRC leadership
felt really genuine. Doctor Mutsepi gave huge thanks
to President Shisa Katie and Prime Minister Toluca.
Yeah, that was prominent. And it seemed their support
wasn't just about hosting duties.
It came from this belief that sport is but more than just fun
and games. It's an instrument for national
(04:42):
strength, for global presence. It lines up perfectly with C
Haves big vision. Absolutely critical that
political buy in and just as critical is the support from the
top of world football. FIFA's role was front and center
with President Gianni Infantino there, and he wasn't just there
for shakes. He really hammered home the
strength of the partnership. He talked specifically about
(05:03):
fighting to get as much money aspossible flowing into African
football development. This ongoing massive financial
commitment from FIFA, it's like the safety net, isn't it?
It seems like it's the foundation that lets CAF be so
ambitious with its own commercial plans.
Exactly. And then Infantino told this
amazing story, really human story connecting global football
(05:27):
right back to Kinshasa. He talked about the CAF general
secretary of Verona, Single Umbo.
He described him as a small boy born right there in Kinshasa,
left the country, got his education.
Infantino joked it was because his football skills weren't
quite pro level. And then eventually he comes
back to his birthplace, not as aplayer, but as the general
secretary of CCAF. That's a powerful narrative.
(05:48):
It really is because it highlights the importance of the
governance side, doesn't it? It shows the football world as a
pathway for highly skilled Africans to come home and lead
the sports administration. It says, look, we're developing
top tier managers and administrators just as well as
we're developing players opportunities on and off the
pitch. They kept the energy up too.
(06:09):
There was this great showcase ofcompetitions of video montage
showing highlights from recent big events since the last
meeting, the Confederation Cup final CHN.
Yeah, that was smart. It's crucial to remind everyone,
the administrators, the world watching that all this
governance stuff, all the meetings, it's all in service of
the actual game, high quality football happening on the pitch.
(06:31):
And they singled out some specific achievements, didn't
they, To kind of inspire everyone.
They did. They make sure to mention the
specific achievements. Ivory Coast holding the golden
trophy as Afghan winners. Morocco's incredible run in
Qatar reaching the World Cup semi finals.
Huge inspiration there showing African teams can compete at the
very top. Yeah, that was massive.
And they mentioned this fairy tale story, as they put it, of a
(06:54):
smaller, younger club winning the Champions League, proving
that success isn't just for the historical giants.
And the women's game got a real spotlight, too, which was great
to see. They recognized the club that's
won the Women's Champions League10 times and they framed that
competition as the biggest game in women's football on the
continent now. That's CAF saying loud and
(07:14):
clear. Investing in women's football
isn't some side project, it's central to their future
commercially and competitively. Absolutely.
And finally, running off that section, the presence of
legends, people like a Beatty, Pele, Jeremy Ng, Top, Kalusha,
Bwadia, Alhaji, Diaf, their names were mentioned.
Yeah, Mutsapee specifically pointed out that these guys are
(07:35):
still heroes. Their status doesn't fade just
because they've hung up their boots.
It connects today's big financial push back to the
history, the emotion, the legacyof African football ensures the
future respects the past. OK, so we've got the big vision,
the inspiration. Now let's get down to the nuts
and bolts. If you're talking about a $1
billion valuation, investors need to see that the house is in
(07:58):
order, right? Precisely this next part,
governance and procedural foundations, is where that
credibility is built. It might seem dry, but it's
absolutely essential. Right.
It kicked off with the general secretary for on Mosango Amba
doing the quorum confirmation. He announced that all 54 member
associations were represented, plus the six zonal unions.
(08:19):
Now, that sounds like just a roll call, but legally it's
critical. If you don't have a quorum, the
assembly doesn't have the authority to make binding
decisions. So any votes taken could be
challenged later. Exactly, and for an organization
aiming to be a global commercialplayer, that kind of legal
vulnerability is just not acceptable.
So confirming the quorum first foundational hashtag tag 2.1.
Formal protocols and compliance agenda items.
(08:41):
DFGH. OK.
Then agenda item D, the statutory compliance check,
verifying that they followed allthe rules for notifying everyone
about the meeting according to the CAF statutes, specifically
Article 17, paragraphs 5-6 and seven, sending notices 120 days,
60 days and 30 days out. Why is being that precise about
(09:03):
deadlines so important? It's all about eliminating risk
in the often contentious world of sports politics.
Someone unhappy with the decision could try to overturn
it on a technicality, like saying they weren't given proper
notice according to the statutes.
By formally verifying they hit those 120 sixty and 30 day
marks, they shut down that Ave. for challenge and make sure that
(09:24):
all the big financial decisions coming later in the meeting are
legally bulletproof. That's crucial if you want
serious international partners to consider that $1 billion
investment. Makes sense.
And the attention to detail didn't stop there.
They moved on to designating oversight like Agenda Item F,
appointing minute checkers. Right three members.
Guinea Bissau for the French record, Botswana for English,
Algeria for Arabic. This provides independent
(09:47):
verification of the official meeting minutes.
And that independence is key, isn't it?
Paramount you've got independent, geographically
diverse members confirming that the official record of what
happened across multiple languages is accurate, and
similarly with agenda item G appointing the skirt and ears
Benin, Rwanda and Gabon their only job to help count the
(10:10):
votes. So separation of powers
essentially. Exactly.
It prevents any suggestion that the central leadership is
manipulating the vote counts or the official record.
It builds trust in the process. And then they close the loop on
past business, with agenda item H approving past minutes, the
minutes from the last ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa
and the extraordinary one in Cairo.
(10:32):
They confirmed they've been circulated properly well in
advance, and crucially, because no one raised any objections or
comments within the required 60 days, they were automatically
approved. Why does approving old minutes
matter so much now? It demonstrates consistency,
stability. It shows the organization is
functioning reliably year after year, following its own
(10:52):
procedures. Investors look for that kind of
operational maturity, it assured, other than the
governance structure isn't chaotic, it's capable of
handling complex administrative tasks smoothly.
So yeah, this whole section might seem like bureaucracy, but
it's the absolutely necessary invisible scaffolding holding up
that billion dollar ambition, right?
Scaffolding is up, governance istight.
(11:15):
Now where's the money actually going?
Because if the dream is an African World Cup winner, you
need a pipeline of talent. And that's where the African
Schools Football championship comes in.
Doctor Matsubi called it their big bet and honestly the scale
is just mind blowing. What were the numbers again?
Get this, 2 million young players involved, boys and
(11:35):
girls. They made a point of saying a
huge number of girls are participating across something
like 85,000 schools all over thecontinent. 85,000 schools.
Wow. It's mass participation on a
scale we haven't really seen before.
At that foundational level, the idea is simple.
Make sure talent doesn't slip through your cracks just because
of where a kid lives. And the incentive structure is
(11:56):
clever too, isn't it? The prize money isn't just cash
for the winners. Exactly.
That's the genius part, the investment incentive.
Zonal winners get $100,000 and the overall African champions
get $400,000. But, and this is the crucial
bit, that money is specifically earmarked for improving school
infrastructure, facilities, pitches, equipment.
(12:18):
So it directly benefits the school environment, not just the
football team. Precisely, it forces
accountability. C CAF and FIFA aren't just
funding football programs, they're investing in better
learning environments in 10s of thousands of communities.
That has huge long term social impact.
Plus it makes the spending easier to audit.
The prize money builds lasting assets.
And Moteppi really brought it tolife, connecting this program to
(12:41):
the future talent pipeline. He basically said the next
Samuel Ateaux, the next El Haji Duf or even the next highest
paid female player. And he pointed out the current
top two highest paid women are from Malawi and Zambia already,
right? He said the next superstar is
probably a nine year old boy or girl playing in this school's
program right now. It makes that huge statistic
(13:02):
feel real, feel achievable. And backing up this grassroots
push is serious money from FIFA.Infantino went into detail on
FIFA development commitment. The big one is the FIFA Forward
program. Over 1.2 billion U.S. dollars
invested in Africa in the last decade or so. 1.2 billion.
Billion. Yeah.
That level of sustained massive funding is unprecedented.
(13:26):
It's the capital that makes these long term development
dreams possible. And they're tackling
infrastructure directly too, aren't they?
The pitch problem. Infantino mentioned the FIFA
Arenas initiative. They're running pilot projects
like one in Liberia. Building these mini pitches
right in schools and communities.
It solves that basic problem of access that kids shouldn't have
to travel miles just to find a decent place to play.
(13:47):
Simple but effective. Then you've got the next level
up, the FIFA academies or fifthemies.
This is about elite talent. The goal is ambitious, 100
worldwide by 2027 and importantly, 20 or 30 of those
are specifically planned for Africa.
And these aren't just training camps.
No, they're designed as completetalent ecosystems, high level
(14:09):
coaching, education, support allfocus on finding the best young
African players, nurturing them and preparing them for the world
stage. We also have to talk about the
push for women's football, Matepe mentioned.
That huge investment and that line follow the girls that he
said came from his mother. Yeah, that was memorable.
It feels like more than just ticking in a quality box, it
sounds like they see real commercial potential there.
(14:31):
He even said he genuinely thinksan African women's team could
win the World Cup before the men's team does.
And that reflects the reality ofthe women's game is exploding in
quality and popularity across Africa.
It's a massive growth area, a potential competitive advantage
and definitely a future revenue stream.
They're serious about hashtag tech Tech 3 point to tournament
(14:51):
highlights and infrastructure. OK, shifting gears to the big
tournaments, AFCON 2025 in Morocco is obviously huge.
It's set for December 25 to January 26th.
They showed off videos of nine seriously impressive world class
venues. Sending a message about hosting
capability. Exactly, and they specifically
(15:12):
credited Vice President Fawzia Electra for his leadership and
making sure that tournament is going to be a massive success.
But it wasn't just about the bighost like Morocco.
They made a point of selling celebrating the recent chain
tournament that's the African Nations Championship for locally
based players hosted across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Right, the East Africa sand. They highlighted the full
stadiums, the great atmosphere and crucially the government
(15:33):
commitment. They specifically thanked
President Samia Hassan of Tanzania and President Museveni
of Uganda, pointing out that their governments really
invested heavily in infrastructure to make the
tournament work. That government C half
partnership is vital. It proves that when nations step
up, you get real, lasting infrastructure improvements on
(15:55):
the ground. And all this investment in
stadiums feeds into that other big C CAF goal, eliminating
external play. Ah.
Yes, Motsepi was really strong on this, he said.
And I'm quoting here, if even 1 nation has to play its home
games outside its own country because facilities aren't good
enough, it's one nation too many.
It's a powerful statement. It is the ultimate aim is every
(16:17):
single club, every national teamplays its own games in front of
its own fans in a stadium that meets FIFA and CAF standards.
It connects CFS overall success directly to the health and
infrastructure of every single one of the 54 member countries.
And it's not just about sentiment, is it?
Playing at home impacts everything.
Fan passion, Local sponsorships,Team morale.
(16:38):
Absolutely. It's a really tangible measure
of whether the development strategy is actually working
across the board. OK, let's get down to brass
tacks, Vision, governance, development.
It all comes down to the money, doesn't it?
And this section was all financeled by the 1st Vice President
and Finance Chairman Fawzi Leksha.
This is where the rubber meets the road for investors.
(16:59):
Leksha laid out the audited statement of accounts for
2023-2024 agenda item J and the numbers.
They basically screamed turn around and growth.
It felt like validation for the current leadership's whole
strategy. Hashtag tag tag 4.1.
Audited statement of accounts, 2023-2024.
The headline number was that huge revenue growth of 53% in
(17:21):
just one year from $190,000,000 to $266 million.
And the money just from the tournaments like AFCON doubled
from $75 million to 148 million.Dollars doubled.
It proves the core product, the football itself, is massively
increasing its commercial appealand how effectively they're
monetizing it. But.
Growth is one thing, managing the cash is another.
(17:42):
How did they show the financial health was strong?
Two key things. First, prize money went up
significantly. It's now 56% of expenses, up
from 45%, totaling $81,000,000. That shows they're putting money
back into the competitions, rewarding the winners properly.
2nd, and this is huge for stability, the organization's
cash flow position is much stronger.
It grew from $41 million cash onhand in 2023 to $68 million in
(18:06):
2024. That's an extra $27 million in
liquid cash. That's the kind of thing that
makes investors feel secure, right?
And what about money owed to C CAF?
The receivables. That was another really strong
point. Lecture reported the receivables
situation was positive at 94%. 94% What does that actually mean
for listeners? It means that of all the money
(18:27):
owed to C CAF, maybe from broadcast partners, sponsors,
etcetera, 94% is being paid on time or is considered highly
likely to be paid. It indicates really strong
financial discipline, reliable contracts and partners who pay
their bills. It speaks volumes about that
structural maturity we talked about, backed up by hard
numbers. And they had the independent
auditors back this up. Yep.
The auditor report came from Ernst and Young.
(18:48):
Jean Antoine Mutandado presentedtheir findings.
They gave what's called an unqualified opinion, basically
saying the financial statements give a faithful image of CFS
finances and performance, and they comply with international
accounting standards. Getting a clean bill of health
like that from a global firm like ENY, that's gold when
you're trying to attract big partners.
But it was another layer of checking to the compliance
(19:10):
committee. Right agenda item K.
The compliance committee report.Mohammed Ayundo confirmed his
committee had reviewed everything and recommended
approval. He specifically stated they were
independent and had full unrestricted access to all the
documents they needed. This multi layered checking
process basically tells the world you can trust these
numbers. Hashtag hashtag 4.2.
(19:31):
The ambitious budget and $1 billion target, 20/25/2026.
OK, so the past looks solid. Then they unveiled the plan for
the future, the budget for 20/25/2026, Agenda Item L and
the revenue forecast. It's huge again, isn't it
colossal? Lecta projected revenues to
nearly double again, forecasting312 million U.S. dollars.
(19:53):
They're clearly banking on that massive audience translating
into much bigger commercial deals.
So how does that $312 million breakdown, where's it going?
Well, $173 million is earmarked for competition expenses.
That includes a massive $125 million just for prize money
plus $47 million for actually running the tournaments.
(20:14):
But the really interesting part is the increase in development
and support. That budget line is jumping up
significantly to $57 million. That's the investment in the
future pipeline we were talking about.
And that $57 million flows into specific investment commitments,
right, like the support for the national federations?
Exactly. The goal remains to get member
associations up to receiving $1 million per federation each
(20:36):
year. Think about what that kind of
consistent funding could do for smaller nations football
programs. Is that $1 million guaranteed
though, or do they have to meet certain and standards?
That's the key question, and theanswer is no, it's not
automatic. It's tied to hitting milestones,
improving governance, complying with C CAF standards.
It's designed to professionalizethe federation's, not just hand
(20:56):
out cash. It builds an accountability,
making sure the money gets used effectively, something that,
let's be honest, hasn't always been perfect in the past.
OK. And what about support for the
clubs playing continentally? There's $13 million allocated
specifically for club support. That's for the 127 or 128 clubs
in the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
(21:17):
It's meant to help with the hugecost of travel across Africa and
crucially, even clubs knocked out early will get a minimum of
$100,000. That minimum payment seems
smart. Helps smaller clubs afford to
even enter, right? Precisely.
It stabilizes the competition atthe entry level, makes it more
viable for clubs from less wealthy, leads to participate.
That broadens the talent pool, raises the overall standard and
(21:40):
beyond clubs, there's $45 million going into broader
football development, training referees, VAR operators, match
commissioners, ensuring the technical side keeps up with the
money. And all of this is building
towards the big prize, that $1 billion partnership they're
negotiating. That's the game changer.
They're in talks for a deal worth $1 billion over the next
(22:00):
eight years. Securing that is seen as
absolutely critical for long term commercial strength and
helping all those member associations become truly
financially self-sufficient. How are they planning to land
that deal? They announced a major push.
A big investment conference is scheduled for December 20th in
Morocco, right before AFCON kicks off.
The whole point is to bring potential sponsors and investors
(22:23):
together, showcase the 1.4 billion viewers, the strong
governance, the growth, basically make an irresistible
pitch to close that $1 billion deal.
OK, so after all that intense finance talk, they had to wrap
things up with the formal procedures, the final votes,
using the green cards apparentlyto approve the 20/23/24 counts
and that huge 202526 budget. Yep, getting the formal sign off
(22:45):
from the assembly and they kept the focus on good governance
right to the end. Agenda item M was the
appointment of auditors. The proposal from the Executive
Committee was to appoint Deloitte for the next year until
the 48th Assembly in 2026. Switching auditors.
Why do that? It reinforces independence.
Regularly rotating major auditing firms like this is
(23:07):
considered best practice in corporate governance.
It prevents any suggestion that the auditors have become too
close to management and sends another signal about commitment
to world class standards. Makes sense?
What about changing the actual rules?
The CAF statutes? Agenda item M.
Interestingly, no immediate changes were proposed there.
They specifically said they wantan extensive consultation
(23:27):
process first talk to the memberassociations, the zonal unions,
the legal experts before bringing any formal amendments
forward. So stability over speed.
Exactly. It shows they value consensus
and careful consideration over rushing through potentially
disruptive changes to their own constitution, demonstrating
stability. Again, hashtag tag tag 5.2.
The ultimate dream. And the whole thing didn't end
(23:50):
on a balance sheet or a procedural point.
It ended back on the dream. Doctor Muncepe's final words
reiterated that ultimate goal, the driving force behind
everything. One day, very soon, an African
nation will be champions of the world because we have the
ability and the talent. That's the big vision tying it
all together and lots of thank yous followed.
The FIFA, the DRC hosts, the legend, sponsors, the CF staff,
(24:11):
acknowledging it takes everyone pulling together.
So if we pull back and synthesize all those for you
listening, what this 47th General Assembly really did was
successfully connect that immense cultural power, the
passion, the 1.4 billion viewerswith a seriously robust
corporate structure. All those seemingly tedious
governance bits, the quorum checks, the minute takers, the
(24:32):
independent audits. They're the vital framework
holding up the $312 million budget and that massive $1
billion commercial ambition. They essentially proved we can
manage the money we're making and we've built the structure to
attract and handle a lot more. It really feels like the
revolution in African football is just happening on the pitch
with those 2 million kids in theschools program.
(24:54):
It's happening just as much in the Finance Committee meetings,
in the compliance reports. That 53% revenue jump, the 94%
receivables, that's structural maturity fueling talent
development. Exactly.
So we've seen the plan, $1 million support for each
federation, getting everyone playing at home, huge investment
in youth and governments. But here's the final thought.
The provocative question maybe, given this massive financial
(25:16):
push, what specific, measurable,auditable result beyond just
hitting the budget numbers the CF need to deliver in the next,
say, three years to truly prove this financial path is locked
in, sustainable, irreversible? Is the real proof making sure
that $1 million per federation demonstrably changes
infrastructure and competence across the continent?
Or is it simply landing that $1 billion partnership deal?
(25:39):
Where does the ultimate validation lie for this
incredibly ambitious project? It's a fascinating challenge
they've set themselves.
We were there. Well, OK, we're not physically
there. But you felt the energy, didn't
you? Imagine it, 54 nations all
focused on one thing gathered inKinshasa.
It felt like a declaration, likeAfrican football saying we're
here and we're a global powerhouse now.
Absolutely. It wasn't your typical dry
procedural meeting. Far from it.
(00:20):
It felt more like, well, like the launch of a massive global
venture. We're diving deep today into
that meeting, the 47th Ordinary General Assembly of the
Confederation of African Football CAF.
And our mission really is to unpack what went down.
We're looking at how they're building this thing, you know,
the mix of proper governance, these huge financial goals, and
(00:41):
this really specific focus on bringing up new talent right
from the grassroots. Exactly.
We're chasing the story behind that rumored $1 million
valuation. How do they get there?
And understanding the sheer power of this viewership
numbers, they announced. Incredible numbers.
Right. And also verifying that the
whole structure, the foundation beneath it all, is solid, you
know, built on real diligence and transparency.
(01:03):
This felt bigger than just federation presidents meeting.
It felt like a statement of continental unity and, honestly,
commercial maturity. And the location Kinshasa, the
DRC that wasn't accidental was. It No, not at all.
Hosting it there was a deliberate, powerful choice.
They explicitly counted the DRC home for the assembly, and they
had this amazing moment where they said for this day, everyone
(01:26):
here from all 54 countries is Congolese.
It's this idea of shared identity, this cultural coming
together that really underpins the whole unified business plan
they're pushing. It grabbed you immediately and
think about the logistics simultaneous translation needed
in French, English, Arabic and Portuguese.
Just managing that tells you thescale of what they're trying to
(01:47):
do. Unite this incredibly diverse
continent under 1. Well, one big commercial banner
for football. And the tone right from the
start was set by Doctor Patrice Matseppe, the CAF president.
His message wasn't just about, you know, scores and leagues.
It was about identity on a global scale.
He kept hitting this point. Football's unique power is
(02:09):
bringing Africans together and then using that unity to show
the world really definitively that African football is in
motion and growing. It's like a cultural
repositioning effort. And the proof is right there in
the numbers, isn't it? For anyone still questioning
African football's global reach,well, the big number dropped.
The last AFCON, the Africa Cup of Nations, was watched by 1.4
(02:33):
billion people. Staggering.
It really is. That's not just a little bump,
it's the highest viewership they've ever had by a long shot.
And when we start talking about that $1 billion target, that 1.4
billion viewer number, that's the bedrock, it completely
changes the conversation for sponsors, for media partners.
It's not can you get eyes on this anymore is how fast can we
lock down the rights to this massive passionate audience.
(02:54):
It basically confirms African football isn't just a regional
thing, it's a global mega event brand right up there with the
Big South American or European tournaments just in terms of how
many people are watching. But it felt like it was about
more than just the audience size.
There was this real sense of belonging.
What's that? They kept emphasizing the unity
(03:15):
principle, he called it. He talked about how football
deliberately cuts across ethnic lines, racial divides, religious
differences. He reminded everyone how during
the last Chan tournament in EastAfrica, they all sort of became
Tanzanians, Ugandans and Kenyansfor a bit.
Yeah. I remember that.
Point And now in Kinshasa they were all Congolese and next year
(03:38):
they'll all be Nigerians. It's like this rolling temporary
Pan African identity created by the sport.
It's quite clever actually. It really is.
And that commitment to unity, itwas baked into the very
beginning of the assembly itself, the formal beginnings.
They started with a moment of silent prayer, but it wasn't
just a quick formality. They specifically acknowledged
God Almighty, Allah, Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad.
(04:00):
It felt like a really profound recognition of the continent's
main faiths, a public statement really, that divine guidance and
respect for spiritual diversity were going to be part of how
they operated, how they united Africa through football.
It set a very serious, inclusivetone.
Hashtag tag 1.2 host nation commitment and FIFA partnership.
(04:21):
Of course, pulling off an event like this needs serious
government backing, and the recognition of DRC leadership
felt really genuine. Doctor Mutsepi gave huge thanks
to President Shisa Katie and Prime Minister Toluca.
Yeah, that was prominent. And it seemed their support
wasn't just about hosting duties.
It came from this belief that sport is but more than just fun
and games. It's an instrument for national
(04:42):
strength, for global presence. It lines up perfectly with C
Haves big vision. Absolutely critical that
political buy in and just as critical is the support from the
top of world football. FIFA's role was front and center
with President Gianni Infantino there, and he wasn't just there
for shakes. He really hammered home the
strength of the partnership. He talked specifically about
(05:03):
fighting to get as much money aspossible flowing into African
football development. This ongoing massive financial
commitment from FIFA, it's like the safety net, isn't it?
It seems like it's the foundation that lets CAF be so
ambitious with its own commercial plans.
Exactly. And then Infantino told this
amazing story, really human story connecting global football
(05:27):
right back to Kinshasa. He talked about the CAF general
secretary of Verona, Single Umbo.
He described him as a small boy born right there in Kinshasa,
left the country, got his education.
Infantino joked it was because his football skills weren't
quite pro level. And then eventually he comes
back to his birthplace, not as aplayer, but as the general
secretary of CCAF. That's a powerful narrative.
(05:48):
It really is because it highlights the importance of the
governance side, doesn't it? It shows the football world as a
pathway for highly skilled Africans to come home and lead
the sports administration. It says, look, we're developing
top tier managers and administrators just as well as
we're developing players opportunities on and off the
pitch. They kept the energy up too.
(06:09):
There was this great showcase ofcompetitions of video montage
showing highlights from recent big events since the last
meeting, the Confederation Cup final CHN.
Yeah, that was smart. It's crucial to remind everyone,
the administrators, the world watching that all this
governance stuff, all the meetings, it's all in service of
the actual game, high quality football happening on the pitch.
(06:31):
And they singled out some specific achievements, didn't
they, To kind of inspire everyone.
They did. They make sure to mention the
specific achievements. Ivory Coast holding the golden
trophy as Afghan winners. Morocco's incredible run in
Qatar reaching the World Cup semi finals.
Huge inspiration there showing African teams can compete at the
very top. Yeah, that was massive.
And they mentioned this fairy tale story, as they put it, of a
(06:54):
smaller, younger club winning the Champions League, proving
that success isn't just for the historical giants.
And the women's game got a real spotlight, too, which was great
to see. They recognized the club that's
won the Women's Champions League10 times and they framed that
competition as the biggest game in women's football on the
continent now. That's CAF saying loud and
(07:14):
clear. Investing in women's football
isn't some side project, it's central to their future
commercially and competitively. Absolutely.
And finally, running off that section, the presence of
legends, people like a Beatty, Pele, Jeremy Ng, Top, Kalusha,
Bwadia, Alhaji, Diaf, their names were mentioned.
Yeah, Mutsapee specifically pointed out that these guys are
(07:35):
still heroes. Their status doesn't fade just
because they've hung up their boots.
It connects today's big financial push back to the
history, the emotion, the legacyof African football ensures the
future respects the past. OK, so we've got the big vision,
the inspiration. Now let's get down to the nuts
and bolts. If you're talking about a $1
billion valuation, investors need to see that the house is in
(07:58):
order, right? Precisely this next part,
governance and procedural foundations, is where that
credibility is built. It might seem dry, but it's
absolutely essential. Right.
It kicked off with the general secretary for on Mosango Amba
doing the quorum confirmation. He announced that all 54 member
associations were represented, plus the six zonal unions.
(08:19):
Now, that sounds like just a roll call, but legally it's
critical. If you don't have a quorum, the
assembly doesn't have the authority to make binding
decisions. So any votes taken could be
challenged later. Exactly, and for an organization
aiming to be a global commercialplayer, that kind of legal
vulnerability is just not acceptable.
So confirming the quorum first foundational hashtag tag 2.1.
Formal protocols and compliance agenda items.
(08:41):
DFGH. OK.
Then agenda item D, the statutory compliance check,
verifying that they followed allthe rules for notifying everyone
about the meeting according to the CAF statutes, specifically
Article 17, paragraphs 5-6 and seven, sending notices 120 days,
60 days and 30 days out. Why is being that precise about
(09:03):
deadlines so important? It's all about eliminating risk
in the often contentious world of sports politics.
Someone unhappy with the decision could try to overturn
it on a technicality, like saying they weren't given proper
notice according to the statutes.
By formally verifying they hit those 120 sixty and 30 day
marks, they shut down that Ave. for challenge and make sure that
(09:24):
all the big financial decisions coming later in the meeting are
legally bulletproof. That's crucial if you want
serious international partners to consider that $1 billion
investment. Makes sense.
And the attention to detail didn't stop there.
They moved on to designating oversight like Agenda Item F,
appointing minute checkers. Right three members.
Guinea Bissau for the French record, Botswana for English,
Algeria for Arabic. This provides independent
(09:47):
verification of the official meeting minutes.
And that independence is key, isn't it?
Paramount you've got independent, geographically
diverse members confirming that the official record of what
happened across multiple languages is accurate, and
similarly with agenda item G appointing the skirt and ears
Benin, Rwanda and Gabon their only job to help count the
(10:10):
votes. So separation of powers
essentially. Exactly.
It prevents any suggestion that the central leadership is
manipulating the vote counts or the official record.
It builds trust in the process. And then they close the loop on
past business, with agenda item H approving past minutes, the
minutes from the last ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa
and the extraordinary one in Cairo.
(10:32):
They confirmed they've been circulated properly well in
advance, and crucially, because no one raised any objections or
comments within the required 60 days, they were automatically
approved. Why does approving old minutes
matter so much now? It demonstrates consistency,
stability. It shows the organization is
functioning reliably year after year, following its own
(10:52):
procedures. Investors look for that kind of
operational maturity, it assured, other than the
governance structure isn't chaotic, it's capable of
handling complex administrative tasks smoothly.
So yeah, this whole section might seem like bureaucracy, but
it's the absolutely necessary invisible scaffolding holding up
that billion dollar ambition, right?
Scaffolding is up, governance istight.
(11:15):
Now where's the money actually going?
Because if the dream is an African World Cup winner, you
need a pipeline of talent. And that's where the African
Schools Football championship comes in.
Doctor Matsubi called it their big bet and honestly the scale
is just mind blowing. What were the numbers again?
Get this, 2 million young players involved, boys and
(11:35):
girls. They made a point of saying a
huge number of girls are participating across something
like 85,000 schools all over thecontinent. 85,000 schools.
Wow. It's mass participation on a
scale we haven't really seen before.
At that foundational level, the idea is simple.
Make sure talent doesn't slip through your cracks just because
of where a kid lives. And the incentive structure is
(11:56):
clever too, isn't it? The prize money isn't just cash
for the winners. Exactly.
That's the genius part, the investment incentive.
Zonal winners get $100,000 and the overall African champions
get $400,000. But, and this is the crucial
bit, that money is specifically earmarked for improving school
infrastructure, facilities, pitches, equipment.
(12:18):
So it directly benefits the school environment, not just the
football team. Precisely, it forces
accountability. C CAF and FIFA aren't just
funding football programs, they're investing in better
learning environments in 10s of thousands of communities.
That has huge long term social impact.
Plus it makes the spending easier to audit.
The prize money builds lasting assets.
And Moteppi really brought it tolife, connecting this program to
(12:41):
the future talent pipeline. He basically said the next
Samuel Ateaux, the next El Haji Duf or even the next highest
paid female player. And he pointed out the current
top two highest paid women are from Malawi and Zambia already,
right? He said the next superstar is
probably a nine year old boy or girl playing in this school's
program right now. It makes that huge statistic
(13:02):
feel real, feel achievable. And backing up this grassroots
push is serious money from FIFA.Infantino went into detail on
FIFA development commitment. The big one is the FIFA Forward
program. Over 1.2 billion U.S. dollars
invested in Africa in the last decade or so. 1.2 billion.
Billion. Yeah.
That level of sustained massive funding is unprecedented.
(13:26):
It's the capital that makes these long term development
dreams possible. And they're tackling
infrastructure directly too, aren't they?
The pitch problem. Infantino mentioned the FIFA
Arenas initiative. They're running pilot projects
like one in Liberia. Building these mini pitches
right in schools and communities.
It solves that basic problem of access that kids shouldn't have
to travel miles just to find a decent place to play.
(13:47):
Simple but effective. Then you've got the next level
up, the FIFA academies or fifthemies.
This is about elite talent. The goal is ambitious, 100
worldwide by 2027 and importantly, 20 or 30 of those
are specifically planned for Africa.
And these aren't just training camps.
No, they're designed as completetalent ecosystems, high level
(14:09):
coaching, education, support allfocus on finding the best young
African players, nurturing them and preparing them for the world
stage. We also have to talk about the
push for women's football, Matepe mentioned.
That huge investment and that line follow the girls that he
said came from his mother. Yeah, that was memorable.
It feels like more than just ticking in a quality box, it
sounds like they see real commercial potential there.
(14:31):
He even said he genuinely thinksan African women's team could
win the World Cup before the men's team does.
And that reflects the reality ofthe women's game is exploding in
quality and popularity across Africa.
It's a massive growth area, a potential competitive advantage
and definitely a future revenue stream.
They're serious about hashtag tech Tech 3 point to tournament
(14:51):
highlights and infrastructure. OK, shifting gears to the big
tournaments, AFCON 2025 in Morocco is obviously huge.
It's set for December 25 to January 26th.
They showed off videos of nine seriously impressive world class
venues. Sending a message about hosting
capability. Exactly, and they specifically
(15:12):
credited Vice President Fawzia Electra for his leadership and
making sure that tournament is going to be a massive success.
But it wasn't just about the bighost like Morocco.
They made a point of selling celebrating the recent chain
tournament that's the African Nations Championship for locally
based players hosted across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Right, the East Africa sand. They highlighted the full
stadiums, the great atmosphere and crucially the government
(15:33):
commitment. They specifically thanked
President Samia Hassan of Tanzania and President Museveni
of Uganda, pointing out that their governments really
invested heavily in infrastructure to make the
tournament work. That government C half
partnership is vital. It proves that when nations step
up, you get real, lasting infrastructure improvements on
(15:55):
the ground. And all this investment in
stadiums feeds into that other big C CAF goal, eliminating
external play. Ah.
Yes, Motsepi was really strong on this, he said.
And I'm quoting here, if even 1 nation has to play its home
games outside its own country because facilities aren't good
enough, it's one nation too many.
It's a powerful statement. It is the ultimate aim is every
(16:17):
single club, every national teamplays its own games in front of
its own fans in a stadium that meets FIFA and CAF standards.
It connects CFS overall success directly to the health and
infrastructure of every single one of the 54 member countries.
And it's not just about sentiment, is it?
Playing at home impacts everything.
Fan passion, Local sponsorships,Team morale.
(16:38):
Absolutely. It's a really tangible measure
of whether the development strategy is actually working
across the board. OK, let's get down to brass
tacks, Vision, governance, development.
It all comes down to the money, doesn't it?
And this section was all financeled by the 1st Vice President
and Finance Chairman Fawzi Leksha.
This is where the rubber meets the road for investors.
(16:59):
Leksha laid out the audited statement of accounts for
2023-2024 agenda item J and the numbers.
They basically screamed turn around and growth.
It felt like validation for the current leadership's whole
strategy. Hashtag tag tag 4.1.
Audited statement of accounts, 2023-2024.
The headline number was that huge revenue growth of 53% in
(17:21):
just one year from $190,000,000 to $266 million.
And the money just from the tournaments like AFCON doubled
from $75 million to 148 million.Dollars doubled.
It proves the core product, the football itself, is massively
increasing its commercial appealand how effectively they're
monetizing it. But.
Growth is one thing, managing the cash is another.
(17:42):
How did they show the financial health was strong?
Two key things. First, prize money went up
significantly. It's now 56% of expenses, up
from 45%, totaling $81,000,000. That shows they're putting money
back into the competitions, rewarding the winners properly.
2nd, and this is huge for stability, the organization's
cash flow position is much stronger.
It grew from $41 million cash onhand in 2023 to $68 million in
(18:06):
2024. That's an extra $27 million in
liquid cash. That's the kind of thing that
makes investors feel secure, right?
And what about money owed to C CAF?
The receivables. That was another really strong
point. Lecture reported the receivables
situation was positive at 94%. 94% What does that actually mean
for listeners? It means that of all the money
(18:27):
owed to C CAF, maybe from broadcast partners, sponsors,
etcetera, 94% is being paid on time or is considered highly
likely to be paid. It indicates really strong
financial discipline, reliable contracts and partners who pay
their bills. It speaks volumes about that
structural maturity we talked about, backed up by hard
numbers. And they had the independent
auditors back this up. Yep.
The auditor report came from Ernst and Young.
(18:48):
Jean Antoine Mutandado presentedtheir findings.
They gave what's called an unqualified opinion, basically
saying the financial statements give a faithful image of CFS
finances and performance, and they comply with international
accounting standards. Getting a clean bill of health
like that from a global firm like ENY, that's gold when
you're trying to attract big partners.
But it was another layer of checking to the compliance
(19:10):
committee. Right agenda item K.
The compliance committee report.Mohammed Ayundo confirmed his
committee had reviewed everything and recommended
approval. He specifically stated they were
independent and had full unrestricted access to all the
documents they needed. This multi layered checking
process basically tells the world you can trust these
numbers. Hashtag hashtag 4.2.
(19:31):
The ambitious budget and $1 billion target, 20/25/2026.
OK, so the past looks solid. Then they unveiled the plan for
the future, the budget for 20/25/2026, Agenda Item L and
the revenue forecast. It's huge again, isn't it
colossal? Lecta projected revenues to
nearly double again, forecasting312 million U.S. dollars.
(19:53):
They're clearly banking on that massive audience translating
into much bigger commercial deals.
So how does that $312 million breakdown, where's it going?
Well, $173 million is earmarked for competition expenses.
That includes a massive $125 million just for prize money
plus $47 million for actually running the tournaments.
(20:14):
But the really interesting part is the increase in development
and support. That budget line is jumping up
significantly to $57 million. That's the investment in the
future pipeline we were talking about.
And that $57 million flows into specific investment commitments,
right, like the support for the national federations?
Exactly. The goal remains to get member
associations up to receiving $1 million per federation each
(20:36):
year. Think about what that kind of
consistent funding could do for smaller nations football
programs. Is that $1 million guaranteed
though, or do they have to meet certain and standards?
That's the key question, and theanswer is no, it's not
automatic. It's tied to hitting milestones,
improving governance, complying with C CAF standards.
It's designed to professionalizethe federation's, not just hand
(20:56):
out cash. It builds an accountability,
making sure the money gets used effectively, something that,
let's be honest, hasn't always been perfect in the past.
OK. And what about support for the
clubs playing continentally? There's $13 million allocated
specifically for club support. That's for the 127 or 128 clubs
in the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
(21:17):
It's meant to help with the hugecost of travel across Africa and
crucially, even clubs knocked out early will get a minimum of
$100,000. That minimum payment seems
smart. Helps smaller clubs afford to
even enter, right? Precisely.
It stabilizes the competition atthe entry level, makes it more
viable for clubs from less wealthy, leads to participate.
That broadens the talent pool, raises the overall standard and
(21:40):
beyond clubs, there's $45 million going into broader
football development, training referees, VAR operators, match
commissioners, ensuring the technical side keeps up with the
money. And all of this is building
towards the big prize, that $1 billion partnership they're
negotiating. That's the game changer.
They're in talks for a deal worth $1 billion over the next
(22:00):
eight years. Securing that is seen as
absolutely critical for long term commercial strength and
helping all those member associations become truly
financially self-sufficient. How are they planning to land
that deal? They announced a major push.
A big investment conference is scheduled for December 20th in
Morocco, right before AFCON kicks off.
The whole point is to bring potential sponsors and investors
(22:23):
together, showcase the 1.4 billion viewers, the strong
governance, the growth, basically make an irresistible
pitch to close that $1 billion deal.
OK, so after all that intense finance talk, they had to wrap
things up with the formal procedures, the final votes,
using the green cards apparentlyto approve the 20/23/24 counts
and that huge 202526 budget. Yep, getting the formal sign off
(22:45):
from the assembly and they kept the focus on good governance
right to the end. Agenda item M was the
appointment of auditors. The proposal from the Executive
Committee was to appoint Deloitte for the next year until
the 48th Assembly in 2026. Switching auditors.
Why do that? It reinforces independence.
Regularly rotating major auditing firms like this is
(23:07):
considered best practice in corporate governance.
It prevents any suggestion that the auditors have become too
close to management and sends another signal about commitment
to world class standards. Makes sense?
What about changing the actual rules?
The CAF statutes? Agenda item M.
Interestingly, no immediate changes were proposed there.
They specifically said they wantan extensive consultation
(23:27):
process first talk to the memberassociations, the zonal unions,
the legal experts before bringing any formal amendments
forward. So stability over speed.
Exactly. It shows they value consensus
and careful consideration over rushing through potentially
disruptive changes to their own constitution, demonstrating
stability. Again, hashtag tag tag 5.2.
The ultimate dream. And the whole thing didn't end
(23:50):
on a balance sheet or a procedural point.
It ended back on the dream. Doctor Muncepe's final words
reiterated that ultimate goal, the driving force behind
everything. One day, very soon, an African
nation will be champions of the world because we have the
ability and the talent. That's the big vision tying it
all together and lots of thank yous followed.
The FIFA, the DRC hosts, the legend, sponsors, the CF staff,
(24:11):
acknowledging it takes everyone pulling together.
So if we pull back and synthesize all those for you
listening, what this 47th General Assembly really did was
successfully connect that immense cultural power, the
passion, the 1.4 billion viewerswith a seriously robust
corporate structure. All those seemingly tedious
governance bits, the quorum checks, the minute takers, the
(24:32):
independent audits. They're the vital framework
holding up the $312 million budget and that massive $1
billion commercial ambition. They essentially proved we can
manage the money we're making and we've built the structure to
attract and handle a lot more. It really feels like the
revolution in African football is just happening on the pitch
with those 2 million kids in theschools program.
(24:54):
It's happening just as much in the Finance Committee meetings,
in the compliance reports. That 53% revenue jump, the 94%
receivables, that's structural maturity fueling talent
development. Exactly.
So we've seen the plan, $1 million support for each
federation, getting everyone playing at home, huge investment
in youth and governments. But here's the final thought.
The provocative question maybe, given this massive financial
(25:16):
push, what specific, measurable,auditable result beyond just
hitting the budget numbers the CF need to deliver in the next,
say, three years to truly prove this financial path is locked
in, sustainable, irreversible? Is the real proof making sure
that $1 million per federation demonstrably changes
infrastructure and competence across the continent?
Or is it simply landing that $1 billion partnership deal?
(25:39):
Where does the ultimate validation lie for this
incredibly ambitious project? It's a fascinating challenge
they've set themselves.
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