Rabat – Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has hailed Morocco’s football experience while calling on African countries to build on the progress made at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Motsepe made the remarks on Thursday during the opening of CAF’s strategic conference on Sal Island in Cape Verde.
The CAF president said the performances of African teams at the 2026 World Cup showed that the continent’s ambitions have grown. He stressed that African football should no longer be satisfied with simply participating in major international tournaments.
Instead, Motsepe called for African teams to compete for the highest positions and eventually challenge for the FIFA World Cup title.
History at 2026 FIFA World Cup
Africa made history at the 2026 World Cup, with 10 national teams representing the continent. Nine of them reached the knockout stage, marking an unprecedented collective performance for African football at the tournament.
Morocco was among the standout African teams during the competition. The Atlas Lions reached the quarter-finals for the second consecutive World Cup, reinforcing their position among the continent’s leading sides.
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The Moroccan national team’s continued progress has coincided with broader developments in the country’s football infrastructure and development system.
Morocco has invested heavily in football facilities and youth development centers while strengthening the management of the sport. The country has also increased its experience in hosting major international competitions.
The Moroccan experience has increasingly attracted attention within African football discussions, particularly as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe’s comments come as CAF brings together several key figures in African and international football for its strategic conference.
Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaa, who also serves as CAF’s first vice president, is attending the two-day meeting alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other football decision-makers from across the continent.
The conference, which concludes on Friday, October 9, is focusing on several issues linked to the future development of African football.
Among the main areas of discussion are the development of national football associations, improvements in training and youth development, and stronger financial and administrative management.
Participants are also expected to examine the lessons from the 2026 World Cup and consider how African football can turn its recent progress into sustainable results in future international competitions.
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