CAF’s Executive Committee has unanimously endorsed FIFA’s joint update on the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), with president Dr Patrice Motsepe saying good governance, due process and transparency must remain central to African football.
FIFA acknowledged that mistakes were made during the proposed creation of the FFE and said the process should have included wider consultation. The world governing body apologised and withdrew the proposal.
A review will now be carried out by FIFA, with its findings due to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting. FIFA said it had followed its regulations throughout the process, despite accepting that the way the proposal was developed was not satisfactory.
Motsepe welcomed the joint statement issued by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, and said CAF fully supported its contents.
“CAF welcomes and endorses the Joint Update by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom,” Motsepe said.
“For us in Africa, adherence to governance, due process and transparency is crucial and non-negotiable, as this is the practice and conduct we expect from our governments, business and other institutions and organisations. This is also the conduct that is expected from CAF.”
The CAF president said the confederation would continue working with FIFA and its Member Associations while maintaining global governance standards. He described those principles as essential to the future development of football across the continent.
CAF is also continuing discussions with potential sponsors and investors, with Motsepe saying those talks are progressing well. The confederation aims to preserve its financial independence while securing investment to improve stadiums and football infrastructure in Africa.
Youth development remains another key part of CAF’s plans. The organisation said it would continue directing resources towards players, coaches and national teams, while also seeking to strengthen amateur and professional leagues.
The Executive Committee unanimously reaffirmed its support for Infantino. Its members thanked the FIFA president and Grafstrom for their backing of African football and praised the successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
CAF’s statement comes as preparations continue for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda 2027. The confederation said planning for the tournament remains on schedule.
The committee also praised the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 in Morocco, describing the competition as a major success. It highlighted the quality of football produced during the tournament and the standard of performances on display.
The endorsement follows FIFA’s decision to abandon the proposed private investment plan after the organisation admitted the process had not involved sufficient consultation. A review is intended to establish the circumstances surrounding the proposal before the matter is reported to the FIFA Council.
CAF said its continued cooperation with FIFA would be guided by accountability and openness, both in its internal operations and in its relationships with governments, businesses, sponsors and other institutions. Motsepe’s comments underline the confederation’s position that those standards cannot be compromised as African football seeks further investment and infrastructure improvements.
