CAF and UEFA Sign Landmark MoU to Deepen Football Ties Between Africa and Europe

Image by CAF

The five-year agreement covers youth development, women's football, coaching education and governance reform

The presidents of African and European football have formalised a renewed commitment to cross-continental cooperation, signing a Memorandum of Understanding in Vancouver that sets out an ambitious shared agenda for the sport through 2031.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin put pen to paper on the agreement on Wednesday, April 29, pledging to align the two confederations around a common vision for football's growth on both continents.

"African football has experienced significant growth over the past few years and we continue to build towards making it among the best in the world," said Motsepe. He framed the deal as a natural extension of the longstanding relationship between the two footballing bodies - one already visible in the number of African players thriving in European leagues.

Čeferin, for his part, cast the agreement in social terms. "Europe and Africa are home to extraordinary football landscapes, where the game plays a vital role both on the pitch and within society," he said, emphasising the MoU's focus on expanding opportunities for young players and advancing women's football.

What the MoU covers

The agreement, which runs until June 30, 2031, spans seven strategic areas. Youth and women's football sits at the centre of the deal, with CAF member associations set to participate in selected CAF-UEFA youth competitions and reciprocal involvement in initiatives like the CAF African Schools Football Championship.

On the technical side, the MoU commits both bodies to structured knowledge exchange in coach education - sharing best practices and aligning coaching frameworks across confederations - as well as development programmes for match officials and referee instructors.

The agreement also addresses longer-term institutional priorities: football development programmes linking European and African member associations, education and capacity-building pathways, cooperation on football medicine, and a governance framework featuring regular meetings and progress reviews to keep delivery on track.

Both confederations described the agreement as a foundation for further joint initiatives over time, suggesting that the scope of collaboration could expand well beyond what has been outlined so far.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada.

Source: CAF