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CAF rejects expanding the Africa Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 teams

Juan José Saldaña — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:20:09 +0000

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to keep the current format of the Africa Cup of Nations after rejecting a proposal to expand the tournament from 24 to 28 teams beginning with the 2028 edition. The initiative, put forward by CAF president Patrice Motsepe, was submitted to the executive committee for a vote and was ultimately rejected by a wide margin, highlighting differing views on the future of Africa’s premier national team competition.

The decision comes as CAF seeks to strengthen the tournament’s international prestige and establish it as a world-class event on the global football calendar. Although the expansion proposal was rejected, the debate over the format of the Africa Cup of Nations remains ongoing, as the organization believes the evolution of its competitions is part of a broader strategy to drive the long-term growth of African football.

A proposal that failed to convince the executive committee

The plan to increase the number of participating teams was presented by Patrice Motsepe in February during a press conference held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Had it been approved by the executive committee, the new format would have been introduced for the 2028 tournament, increasing the number of participating national teams in one of the continent’s most important football competitions.

However, the proposal faced strong opposition from CAF executives. According to information that emerged following the meeting, two members of the executive committee confirmed that the proposal was rejected in a vote. One described the project as “a very bad idea” and argued that there were no convincing reasons to justify the change. Another committee member stated that the proposal had been presented without prior consultation with the rest of the executive committee, a situation that intensified criticism during the discussions.

CAF remains committed to strengthening African football’s flagship tournament

Despite rejecting the expansion, CAF officials stressed that discussions about the future of the Africa Cup of Nations are not limited solely to the number of participating teams. The organization’s communications director, Luxolo September, explained that, over the past few years, CAF’s leadership has been evaluating several initiatives aimed at turning African competitions into world-class events, with the tournament format representing just one element of a much broader conversation.

While those discussions continue, preparations for the next editions are moving forward as planned. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be held between June and July in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, in a joint hosting effort designed to promote regional football development. Meanwhile, CAF has already launched the bidding process for the 2028 edition, with applications from Ethiopia, Morocco, and a joint bid from Botswana and South Africa, reflecting the organization’s ongoing strategy to enhance the international profile of both the tournament and African football as a whole.

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ANOCA projects unity, youth and Olympic ambition towards 2027

Javier Nieto — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:52:31 +0000

The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa –ANOCA- held an Extraordinary General Assembly by videoconference on 19 June 2026, chaired by Mustapha Berraf, with 52 of the 54 African National Olympic Committees taking part. The meeting delivered three main messages: unanimous support for Berraf’s candidacy for the presidency of the Association of National Olympic Committees -ANOC-, confirmation of progress towards the African School Games 2027 in Abuja and the announcement of a $1 million annual partnership dedicated to African youth.

Support for Berraf was one of the central points of the session. African committees recalled that no leader from the continent has ever chaired ANOC and approved a motion giving their “unconditional, full and complete support” to the ANOCA president’s candidacy. The text also called on the African Olympic and Sports Movement to unite behind the bid and encouraged National Olympic Committees from other continents to support the African proposal.

An African candidacy for ANOC

The motion framed Berraf’s candidacy within a continental reading. African representatives highlighted the consolidation of unity among the 54 National Olympic Committees, the development of sports infrastructure, the training of leaders, increased support for athletes and Africa’s growing influence on the global sports stage. They also praised his “decisive contribution to the cause of Olympism” and reaffirmed their confidence in his ability to lead ANOC to further progress.

The Assembly thus linked the institutional debate to a question of representation. Berraf’s candidacy is not presented only as an individual aspiration, but as an opportunity to strengthen Africa’s presence in international Olympic governance. At a time when the continent is preparing major youth events and looking towards a key cycle, ANOCA is seeking to project an image of internal cohesion and external ambition.

Abuja 2027 and African school sport

The second major focus was the preparation of the African School Games 2027, scheduled to take place in Abuja. The Assembly reviewed and approved the Coordination Committee’s report presented in the Nigerian capital on 9 and 10 June, which highlighted the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Sports Commission. It also confirmed progress by the local organising committee, already established and supported by 14 specialised subcommittees.

Members endorsed the principle of a broad sports programme, with more than 20 disciplines and around 2,500 young athletes. Clarification is still required on the final schedule and accommodation plans, which will be addressed with the Nigerian authorities in the coming weeks. Beyond the organisation of the event itself, Abuja 2027 appears as a central piece of ANOCA’s strategy to place youth at the heart of African Olympic development.

A broader continental agenda

The Assembly also addressed other projects on the African calendar, including the African Beach Games, scheduled for Equatorial Guinea, and the African Youth Games, to be held in Ethiopia. In that context, Berraf expressed his intention to award the African Olympic Order of Merit to the president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, in recognition of his personal commitment to the growth of the Olympic Movement in Africa.

The meeting also concluded with the announcement of a partnership with a non-profit organisation, which has committed to providing sports equipment worth $1 million per year to 50 OlympAfrica centres. The aim is to benefit disadvantaged young people across the continent and strengthen a network that ANOCA presents as a tool for education, training and personal development. “The General Assembly demonstrated, once again, the unity and institutional maturity of the African Olympic Movement,” said Berraf, who added that National Committees are committed to making 2027 a historic year for Africa.

Dakar 2026 as a test for Africa

Before 2027, the continent will have an event of special symbolic and operational importance with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event organised in Africa. In his message marking ANOCA’s 45th anniversary, Berraf described the event as “a historic milestone for Africa” and argued that the continent has the capacity to host, inspire and succeed. Dakar 2026 will therefore act as a test of visibility, co-ordination and confidence for the African Olympic ecosystem.

The anniversary also allowed ANOCA to connect its current agenda with its historical trajectory. The organisation was founded on 28 June 1981 in Lomé and reaches its 45th anniversary with 54 National Olympic Committees and seven development zones. In his message, Berraf paid tribute to the association’s founders, highlighted the role of African athletes and stressed that every medal won by the continent represents more than a sporting result, describing it as an expression of sovereignty and international presence. The milestone also comes at a moment of strong symbolic meaning for African Olympism. For the first time, the International Olympic Committee -IOC- is led by an African woman, Kirsty Coventry, a circumstance Berraf presented as a source of pride for the entire continent.

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Athlete protection moves from policy to action at the Safe Sport Global Conference

Javier Nieto — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:52:22 +0000

The University of Cape Town -UCT- hosted the Safe Sport Global Conference from 25 to 27 May 2026, an international event focused on protecting athletes and participants from abuse, harassment, exploitation, neglect and violence in sport. The conference brought together more than 500 delegates from 87 countries and was presented by the South African university as the largest gathering of the global safe sport movement ever held on African soil, with researchers, policymakers, athletes, educators, safeguarding specialists and sports leaders meeting under the theme “Moving safeguarding from intention to implementation”.

The significance of the event lay in positioning protection in sport as a matter of governance, integrity and institutional responsibility, beyond the formal existence of policies or internal codes. The conference was led by Safe Sport International -SSI-, UCT, Sport for Social Change Network Africa -SSCN- and the African Union Sports Council -AUSC-, with support and participation linked to the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association -FIFA-, World Rugby, World Athletics, UNESCO South Africa, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and other bodies connected to integrity and protection in sport.

Safe sport, from intention to implementation

The first major focus of the event was turning safe sport into real systems for prevention, detection, reporting and response. Neal Anderson, CEO of Safe Sport International, summarised that idea by arguing that “safe sport does not happen by accident” and is not created by good intentions alone, but “must be chosen, built, resourced and sustained”. In his remarks, he linked that responsibility to clear values, accountable leadership, trusted systems and safety cultures lived every day inside sports organisations.

The first day, dedicated to knowledge mobilisation, focused on research, data, athlete rights, the design of safeguarding systems and youth participation. Sessions also addressed the relationship between protection and inclusion, mental health in and through sport, trauma-informed practice, the wellbeing of athletes and support teams, child protection and the need for policies to be built on evidence and on the experience of those who have lived through situations of abuse, vulnerability or harm within the sports system.

Research, mental health and survivors

The second day placed African leadership and continental innovation at the centre of the debate. Under that theme, the conference addressed responses adapted to the African context, gender-based violence, mental health, the creation of protection networks, human trafficking through sport, safeguarding in sports academies and the protection of children in low-resource or crisis settings. Specific issues were also discussed, including the inclusion of women and girls with albinism in African sport and strategies to end child sexual violence through research, survivor-led initiatives and practical safeguarding interventions.

Mosa Moshabela, UCT vice-chancellor, argued that sport can transform lives and open professional opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, but only if those spaces are free from injury, abuse, harassment, exploitation and harm. David Maralack, associate professor and head of UCT’s School of Management Studies, linked the conference to the need to address the limited presence of Africa and the Global South in safe sport research, an absence which, he explained, has real consequences for athletes, officials, federations and communities facing these problems without enough evidence-based guidance.

Africa and international federations

The final day, focused on global vision and solutions, addressed accountability, international standards, institutional readiness and the need for protection mechanisms to work in the daily practice of clubs, federations, competitions, academies and international organisations. Anderson warned that sport can become a place of deep harm when power is abused, dependency is exploited, boundaries are crossed or success is placed above people. “Violence, harassment and abuse in or through sport are never acceptable. Safe sport is the only sport that matters,” he said.

FIFA appeared as one of the relevant actors in that conversation. Kathryn Leslie, Senior Safeguarding Manager at the organisation, recognised the work of safeguarding officers operating with limited resources in different countries and argued that the international federation listens to its member associations in order to improve its systems. The conference also addressed age fraud as an issue affecting both protection and integrity, with calls for responsibility not to fall only on athletes, but also on officials and coaches who may facilitate such practices.

Work still to do

World Rugby and Rugby Africa used the conference as part of a broader process to build a continental safeguarding network. The event came after Rugby Africa adopted a continental safeguarding policy and procedures in February 2026 to prevent and respond to abuse, harassment, neglect and exploitation. Coralie van den Berg, Regional Partnership Manager for Africa at World Rugby, stressed that “the adoption of a safeguarding policy was a critical step, but policies alone do not protect people; people do”.

World Athletics also presented its experience after introducing a safeguarding policy in 2023 requiring its member federations to take responsibility in this area. Catherine Pitre, Senior Counsel at the international federation, said more work was still needed to ensure that no complaint is left without a clear route for action. “We still have a lot of work to do in terms of policy adoption and procedures to ensure that no complaint is left without a pathway to move forward and be addressed,” she said.

The conference concluded with the collective adoption of a Safe Sport Principles Pledge, aimed at strengthening accountability and safeguarding practices worldwide. In parallel, Rugby Africa plans to train and certify 25 safeguarding focal points from its member federations and move towards the adoption of protection policies in at least 50% of participating federations in the 12 months following the event.

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Five Refugee Team Athletes to Compete at the African Athletics Championships

Juan José Saldaña — Mon, 11 May 2026 22:09:36 +0000

Behind every start from the blocks and every lap around the track are stories that began long before athletics. Stories shaped by war, family separation, and decisions made to survive. At the upcoming African Athletics Championships, to be held from May 12 to 17 in Accra, five members of the Refugee Athlete Team of World Athletics will compete with the same dream shared by millions of athletes: to show how far they can go.

Although they compete in different events and distances, Kun Waar Liem, Solomon Okeny, Abdifatah Aden Hassan, Lokoro Dario, and Perina Nakang arrive in Ghana with something more valuable than their personal bests. Each represents years of effort in refugee camps in Kenya, training far from their families, and a deeply held belief: their circumstances do not define the limits of their ambitions.

From Refuge to the Track: Stories Born in the Midst of Conflict

Kun Waar Liem was seven years old when the war in South Sudan forced her to flee to the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. Her parents escaped to Ethiopia, and she has not seen them since. What was once a place of safety eventually became the setting where she discovered her talent for the 200 meters. Today, she trains in Nairobi under the guidance of Duncan Ayiemba, alongside Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala.

Solomon Okeny’s story also began in a refugee camp. He arrived in Kakuma with his mother and siblings and found an unexpected opportunity in athletics. What started as a race to win water and glucose turned into a life project. Today, he not only pursues his sporting goals but also uses his financial support to pay for his sisters’ education and help them stay in school. In every training session, the sprinter runs with the understanding that success can also be a way of caring for others.

A Continental Championship as a Gateway to New Opportunities

In Kaptagat, about 300 kilometers from Nairobi, Abdifatah Aden Hassan is fine-tuning his preparation for the 1,500 meters. The Ethiopian runner still does not know where his parents are, after being separated from them while fleeing conflict. His story is marked by uncertainty, but also by perseverance. Thanks to the refugee athlete scholarship program of the International Olympic Committee and the Tegla Loroupe Foundation, he found in athletics a way to rebuild his identity and envision a different future.

Lokoro Dario and Perina Nakang arrive with international experience and the certainty that every competition represents a new opportunity. Dario previously competed at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 2024, while Nakang has taken part in two World Championships and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both train under Janeth Jepkosgei, the 2007 world champion in the 800 meters. In Accra, they will seek not only to improve their performances, but also to honor the journey that has taken them from refugee camps to the major stages of African athletics.

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Esther Siamfuko and how football took her from a local school to the Olympic Games

Juan José Saldaña — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:48:42 +0000

Football, often seen as just a game, can become a powerful tool to transform lives. The story of Esther Siamfuko proves it clearly: from her first steps in a community program to her presence on the world’s biggest sporting stages, her journey reflects how access to opportunities can redefine a girl’s future.

Her development was deeply linked to the work of the Fundación Força, an initiative that uses sport as a driver of female empowerment. What began as a safe space to play in Lusaka became the starting point of a path that reached the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, highlighting the real impact that sustained support can have on young women’s lives.

Football as a space for transformation and leadership

When Siamfuko first joined a local women’s football program, the goal was not to create elite athletes, but to offer a space where girls could develop freely. In contexts where opportunities are limited and social expectations often restrict women’s roles, initiatives like Força open alternative paths, where sport becomes a language of confidence, leadership, and belonging.

The project’s expansion has been significant. From its origins in Mozambique, the foundation has reached more than 30 countries, adapting to different cultural realities while maintaining a single purpose: to strengthen girls through football. Under the leadership of Kadia Sow Mbaye, the program has built a network that not only teaches sporting skills, but also promotes values such as self-esteem, resilience, and the ability to imagine different futures.

Breaking barriers: the cultural challenge behind women’s sport

Despite progress, the path for many girls is still marked by deep social barriers. In cities like Dakar or Lusaka, access to women’s sport continues to be shaped by stigma, prejudice, and structural limitations. Comments about appearance, family pressure, and even blame narratives reflect the challenges faced by those who choose to keep playing.

In this context, Força’s work goes beyond the pitch. Through workshops, home visits, and training programs, the organization works directly with communities and families to shift perceptions and create more inclusive environments. The experience of coaches like Adji Nideme Diagne illustrates this process: persuading, supporting, and sustaining girls in their decision to play becomes a daily act of social transformation, where each story, like Siamfuko’s, represents a real possibility for change.

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How Olympism365 is building safer communities in Africa

Juan José Saldaña — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:25:54 +0000

Sport in Africa is no longer just a competitive expression—it is becoming a tool for social transformation. As the continent prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, a growing network of initiatives is emerging, recognizing physical activity as a common language capable of fostering belonging, confidence, and opportunity. On the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has highlighted this quiet yet profound impact, already reshaping realities across different communities.

Through its Olympism365 strategy, the IOC has supported programs that go beyond promoting sport, integrating essential values such as inclusion, gender equality, and education. Since 2022, more than 640,000 young people have benefited from these initiatives across the continent, reflecting growth that goes beyond numbers—these are stories of individual and collective transformation that find their starting point in sport.

Sport as a space for learning and belonging

In Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, a football field becomes much more than a place to play. For Espoir, a 15-year-old participant, the O!YES program represents an opportunity to learn how to live within a community. Through sports activities combined with educational workshops, young people develop not only physical skills but also tools to navigate their environment. “We learned that, as children, we deserve respect,” he explains, reflecting an awareness that goes beyond the field.

The impact of O!YES, present in Olympafrica centers across 23 countries, is measured both in numbers and in visible change. In its latest edition, more than 96,000 young people took part in the program, showing significant improvements in social skills and in the adoption of Olympic values such as teamwork and fair play. For educators like Thiérry Mbembo, these advances translate into real transformations: children who are more confident, more open, and better able to relate to their school and social environments.

Initiatives addressing social challenges through sport

Thousands of kilometers away, in Madagascar, sport is also being used to tackle deeper social issues. The Ampi’zay project, whose name means “Enough,” uses rugby and education as tools to address gender-based violence and promote safer environments. Implemented in several cities, the program combines teacher training, mixed-gender sports activities, and community workshops that encourage participants to challenge entrenched norms.

The changes are evident in the stories emerging from classrooms. Teachers like Richard have witnessed how students with aggressive behavior begin to transform their attitudes, developing empathy and building healthier relationships. With nearly 4,000 beneficiaries—most of them children—Ampi’zay is part of a broader network of initiatives supported by the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, where sport is positioned as a driver of change, capable of creating safe spaces, fostering dialogue, and strengthening the social fabric within diverse communities.

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Diamil Faye, the strategist chosen by Bassirou Diomaye Faye to strengthen Senegalese sport on the road to Dakar 2026

Juan José Saldaña — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:02:40 +0000

The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has appointed Diamil Faye as the new Sports Advisor to the Presidency of the Republic, a decision that comes at a crucial moment for the West African nation. The move takes place as Senegal prepares to host two major global sporting events: the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup 2026, competitions that will place sport at the center of the country’s international visibility and development strategy.

The appointment also reflects the president’s intention to reinforce sports governance from within the Presidency, bringing in the expertise of a specialist in the management of major events and international sports policy. Diamil Faye arrives in the role with a career shaped by his involvement in Olympic projects and institutional modernization processes within sport, positioning him as a figure capable of connecting sports diplomacy, strategic planning and the organization of large-scale global competitions.

An international profile to strengthen Senegal’s sports strategy

Diamil Faye’s career has been built around major sporting events and the institutional architecture of global sport. His experience includes notable contributions to the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games and participation in the first edition of the African Youth Games, where he began to consolidate a professional profile focused on planning and coordinating international competitions.

Over the years, Faye has also collaborated on several editions of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, while taking part in bid processes that resulted in host city selections for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This journey allowed him to develop a broad understanding of the international sports ecosystem, where political, economic and social interests converge around the organization of major global events.

From the modernization of African football to major sports projects

Since 2012, Diamil Faye has worked as an expert and consultant for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), supporting several African federations in administrative and strategic modernization processes. In this role, his work focused on strengthening management structures, improving sports planning and promoting more sustainable governance models in African football.

Over the past seven years, his career has developed in Saudi Arabia, where he contributed to integrating sport into the national strategy known as Saudi Vision 2030. There, he participated in initiatives aimed at attracting international events and positioning sport as a tool for economic diversification and global projection. Now, his first official mission in Senegal will be to support the state in preparing for the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, a historic milestone for African sport that will make the country the first on the continent to host an Olympic event.

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How FIFA is expanding its commitment to grassroots football in Africa

Javier Nieto — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:35:18 +0000

The General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa –ANOCA– Zone VI, held in Windhoek from 5 to 7 March, delivered a concrete announcement for Namibia: the construction of a FIFA-standard football pitch at the Olympafrica centre of the Namibia National Olympic Committee, located in Omaruru. The project is part of the partnership between FIFA, the International Olympic Committee -IOC- and ANOCA, and it was presented by the president of the continental body, Mustapha Berraf.

The announcement fits into an increasingly visible line of work across the continent. Beyond tournaments, national teams or major one-off events, FIFA is strengthening in Africa a network of infrastructure and grassroots programmes built on the idea that football development should also rest on permanent structures: technical centres, refurbished stadiums, school mini-pitches and training systems spread across different countries. That strategy relies above all on FIFA Forward, the programme through which the organisation said it had surpassed USD 1.06 billion in investment in African football from 2016 to September 2025, with a projection of reaching USD 1.28 billion by the end of 2026.

From Namibia to a network of technical centres

One of the most recent examples is in Nigeria. The Nigeria Football Federation began construction in Abuja on a new technical centre with player accommodation, two training pitches and the refurbishment of an existing surface, all financed through FIFA Forward. The project includes a 68-room residential block, one natural grass pitch, one synthetic pitch and a 1,838-seat stand, with completion expected within two years.

The same pattern can be seen elsewhere on the continent. In August 2025, Kenya’s president, William Ruto, handed Gianni Infantino the title deeds to the land where the Football Kenya Federation will build its future national technical centre in Machakos, a project financed through FIFA Forward and designed with one natural grass pitch, two artificial surfaces, an administration building and conference rooms. In Mauritania, meanwhile, FIFA announced in February 2025 the opening of the continent’s first FIFA Talent Academy, alongside progress on the expansion of the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya stadium, also supported by FIFA Forward funding.

1,000 mini-pitches: football as everyday access

The expansion is not limited to complexes for national teams or federations. In Algeria, the Algerian Football Federation became the first African member association affiliated to FIFA to inaugurate mini-pitches under the FIFA Arena project, with two artificial surfaces in Algiers set to benefit more than 1,500 schoolchildren. The programme, launched by FIFA with the aim of installing at least 1,000 mini-pitches worldwide by 2031, places everyday access to the game among its priorities.

Liberia offers another example of the same approach. In Paynesville, two mini-pitches were inaugurated at schools, with an expected impact on more than 3,000 children, as part of a collaboration between FIFA and the Liberia Football Association. The same day also saw the opening of a new FIFA-approved artificial surface at Gompa Stadium, in Nimba County, alongside other upgrades such as floodlights, an irrigation system, fencing and roofing for the stands.

From major tournaments to a more stable foundation

The common thread in these projects is that development is no longer being framed only around international competition or the cycles of senior national teams. In Mauritania, for example, the country became the first in Africa to launch Football for Schools in March 2022 and, three years later, hosted the first milestone event of a FIFA Talent Academy on the continent. The combination of schools, talent identification, facilities and federation support outlines a strategy that seeks continuity beyond the competitive calendar.

Seen from that perspective, the pitch announced in Omaruru during the ANOCA Zone VI meeting takes on a significance that goes beyond Namibia. It is not being presented as a major work tied to a tournament, but as infrastructure integrated into an Olympafrica centre and geared towards grassroots sport, the community and the development of young people. That is where the roadmap becomes clearer: less dependence on isolated moments of visibility and a stronger emphasis on leaving behind spaces, programmes and structures that remain active once the competition, the official visit or the media spotlight has moved on.

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Africa and Asia reconnect with their shared history in Kuwait through the cultural event “From Silk to the Sahara”

Juan José Saldaña — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:03:38 +0000

Africa and Asia look at each other once again from a space that transcends borders, languages, and political circumstances. In a world marked by tension and fragmentation, both continents turn to culture and sport as universal languages to reconnect with a shared history woven over millennia. Culture as a universal language is expressed through a symbolic gesture that will have Kuwait as its meeting point, where memory, identity, and cooperation come together.

On March 28, 2026, the 99 National Olympic Committees of Africa and Asia will gather in the city of Kuwait to bring the Afro-Asian Cultural Event to life, under the motto “From Silk to the Sahara”. Jointly driven by ANOCA and OCA, the meeting seeks to revive a historic collaboration between the two youngest and most dynamic continents on the planet, placing culture at the center as the foundation of a partnership designed to endure over time.

An Afro-Asian renaissance through culture

The official announcement of this initiative took place on January 5, 2026, during a joint strategic videoconference meeting between ANOCA and OCA. There, the pillars of a project were outlined that aims to be far more than a one-off event: A new chapter of Afro-Asian cooperation, with culture as the first step in an annual collaboration that will alternate between sporting, educational, and artistic dimensions.

For the President of ANOCA, Mustapha Berraf, this moment represents a turning point in contemporary Olympic history. Africa and Asia, united by young populations and transformative energy, assume a shared responsibility toward the world. Along the same lines, the Director General of OCA, Hussein Al-Musallam, recalled that since 1982 both continents have shared a relationship based on fraternity and friendship, and that beginning this new cycle through culture responds to a global need for peace, understanding, and mutual respect.

Symbols, equality, and a global message

The identity of the event is built on symbols deeply rooted in both civilizations. The logo, which merges the African lion and the Asian dragon, represents shared nobility, wisdom, and strength, while the motto “From Silk to the Sahara” evokes the ancient trade routes that for centuries connected Asia and Africa. Symbols that unite civilizations reflect a shared history in which cultural exchange was as important as commercial exchange.

The cultural program on March 28 will feature seven artistic performances representing different African and Asian regions, culminating in a collective presentation by artists from the Gulf Cooperation Council alongside all participating groups. In addition, Gender equality at the heart of the event is reflected in the invitation not only to the presidents and secretaries general of the NOCs, but also to the presidents of the Women and Gender Commissions, in a gesture aligned with Olympic values and marking the month of International Women’s Day. The global live and high-definition broadcast of the event will amplify this message of unity, projecting to the world a vision of Olympism where culture, sport, youth, and mutual respect advance inseparably.

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Africa accelerates its sports development through ANOCA’s strategy

Javier Nieto — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:42:27 +0000

The Executive Committee of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa -ANOCA- met on 13 December 2025 in Luanda (Angola), ahead of the start of the African Youth Games, for a strategic session aimed at reviewing the growth of sport across the continent and setting future priorities. The meeting coincided with celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence and highlighted the main progress achieved since 2023 in sport development, governance and infrastructure.

During the session, ANOCA presented an activity report showing objectives exceeded by more than 100 per cent, supported by a strategy built on international partnerships, direct athlete support and the strengthening of national structures. The President of ANOCA and member of the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, Mustapha Berraf, stressed that the focus has been placed on “democratising access to sport and creating the necessary conditions for every young African, regardless of background, to develop their potential”.

Expanding access to sport with FIFA, FIBA and World Aquatics

One of the central announcements was the agreement reached with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association -FIFA-, which includes the construction of 50 football pitches at Olympafrica centres across the continent. The initiative targets young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods and aims to improve access to basic sports facilities in environments where infrastructure remains limited. “These partnerships are not agreements on paper, but a real commitment to universal access to sport,” said Berraf.

Alongside FIFA, ANOCA unveiled further agreements with international federations to broaden the range of sports opportunities. These include collaboration with World Aquatics to provide swimming pools for national Olympic committees and federations lacking such facilities; with the International Basketball Federation -FIBA- to drive the development of 3×3 basketball; and with the International Canoe Federation -ICF- to supply competition equipment. Together, these partnerships aim to reduce structural inequalities and expand opportunities in disciplines that are less developed across the continent.

Continental events and direct support for performance

The 2025 review also highlighted strong results in event organisation. The African Beach Games in Hammamet brought together 31 countries, 16 sports and more than 2,300 participants, while the launch of the African School Games marked a milestone by involving over 4,000 athletes across 35 disciplines, creating a new platform for school sport in Africa.

At high-performance level, ANOCA underlined the impact of the African Athlete Support Programme, backed by a budget of two million dollars and supporting 48 athletes. The programme contributed to achievements such as Botswana’s first Olympic gold medal, won by Letsile Tebogo, and Africa’s first gold medal in artistic gymnastics, secured by Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where 12 African nations won a total of 39 medals.

Olympafrica and national structures as foundations for growth

Olympafrica centres were identified as a cornerstone of ANOCA’s development model, supporting both talent identification and education and social inclusion. “They are much more than sports facilities; they are places where young people can learn, grow and find opportunities,” said Berraf. At the same time, the project to build and modernise national Olympic committee headquarters is progressing in several countries, following the inauguration of the Eswatini National Olympic Committee headquarters in 2023.

The meeting also highlighted ongoing challenges, including high customs duties on donated sports equipment, which in some countries reach up to 60 per cent of the equipment’s value. ANOCA confirmed it will continue working with governments to secure tax exemptions for development-focused donations and addressed the recognition of new sports, stressing the need to respect procedures established by the IOC. The balance presented in Luanda reflects a strategy focused on consolidating strong structures, expanding access to sport and sustaining the growth of the African Olympic movement.

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