The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the African Club Association (ACA) have taken a significant step in advancing club football on the continent.
On 11 March 2025, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and ACA Chairman Hersi Said signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Cairo, Egypt, marking a major milestone in African football development.
This agreement formalizes a shared commitment to strategic objectives, including the protection and growth of professional club football in Africa.
Central to these efforts is the promotion of young talent through training initiatives and ensuring suitable education pathways for players throughout their careers.
Under Dr. Motsepe’s leadership, CAF has increased financial support for club football, exemplified by a $50,000 solidarity fee provided to all clubs that participated in the preliminary rounds of the CAF Interclub Competitions—a first in the competition’s history.
Additionally, the prize money for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup has been boosted by over 40%, further incentivizing participation and excellence.
The ACA, established in November 2023 with the support of Dr. Motsepe, continues to gain momentum. Its forthcoming headquarters at the King Mohammed VI National Football Academy in Sale, Morocco, symbolize its commitment to fostering excellence in African football.
Beyond financial and developmental strides, the MoU outlines joint efforts to combat racism, doping, match-fixing, and corruption, while promoting fair play across all competitions.
Both organizations emphasize the importance of resolving sports-related disputes through appropriate structures and strengthening national and international tournaments organized by CAF.
The partnership also aims to ensure that club and national team football provide substantial benefits to players, clubs, leagues, and member associations.
