The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the European Commission have announced a new strategic partnership to support upcoming African football tournaments and youth development initiatives, marking a significant deepening of Africa-Europe cooperation in sport and development. The agreement was signed in Cairo by CAF President Patrice Motsepe and European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela. It includes EU sponsorship of the African Schools Football Championship, the 2025 and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). “This partnership reflects our joint commitment to growing African youth football and expanding cultural and economic ties between our continents,” said Motsepe.
Síkela emphasized the symbolic and practical impact of the agreement “We’re making Europe’s partnership with Africa more visible, more relevant—especially for young people. The African Schools Championship alone will reach up to 33,000 schools across the continent.” The Women’s AFCON will take place in July 2025 in Morocco, followed by the Men’s AFCON in December. Both events are also backed by title sponsor TotalEnergies, the French oil giant.
The football partnership is part of the broader Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package, through which the EU has pledged €150 billion in investments in Africa by 2027. Key focus areas include education, energy transition, digital infrastructure, and healthcare.
The announcement coincides with the 25th anniversary of the first EU-African Union Summit, also held in Cairo in 2000, underscoring a continued push for stronger intercontinental cooperation. The partnership aims not only to elevate African football on the global stage but also to engage youth, promote education through sport, and foster enduring diplomatic and economic ties between the two regions.
