Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF)’s Post

The colonization of African Football. When did we start selling African games to the highest bidder? Now we have foreign countries hosting complete African championships instead of the continent of 54 Nations, that the championship is supposed to belongs too? Why are African games being hosted in foreign countries? Why are foreign countries being allowed to host African games? We never see the championship finals or any games that belong to Saudi Arabia or any other foreign country being held in Africa, so why is this an option for us? It's a worrisome concern that CAF, the body supposed to handle African football, would give a foreign country the right to hold an African championship. Again, I stress an African championship, where Saudi Arabia has all the game rights and not Africa. Make it make sense! By the way who has the broadcasting and advertising rights to Saudi Arabia sorry Maybe Africa Champions league, is it an Africa or Saudi Arabia? who is playing in this league is it Saudi Arabian teams or African teams? Imagine being a Kenyan, South African, Ugandan, Nigerian, Egyptian, etc., and having to travel to Saudi Arabia to watch your home team play against another African country. Does this make sense to anyone? Book a visa most likely get your visa denied, book flights that are expensive, book stadium tickets, book hotels in another country and continent just to watch our African teams play against each other. Math isn't Mathing here!! How was this ever suggested, debated upon, thought to be a good idea, and eventually passed? It seems the president and deputy of CAF have lost all hope of having African games in Africa if they can quickly sell all our football rights to a foreign country. It's time we consider replacing them with people who want to develop African football in Africa. This is utterly ridiculous. Soon AFCON will be in Saudi Arabia or some country that pays them the highest, if this is the direction they are taking African football, with CAF leadership acting like Africa is incapable of hosting its own games, it's time to find new leadership. Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) This is BS, not exciting news.

#ZeeVentures: Saudi Arabia Sets Sights on Hosting the Biggest FIFA World Cup in 2034 Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034, with ambitions to deliver the largest single-host event in the tournament’s history. Spearheaded by Hammad Albalawi, head of the Saudi bid unit, the plan includes 15 stadiums across five major cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Al Khobar, and NEOM. This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, ensuring no additional infrastructure burden, as existing projects are already in progress. Speaking at the World Football Summit, Albalawi emphasized the Kingdom’s deep love for football, stating that hosting the World Cup would connect Saudi Arabia with the global football community. He also highlighted the social reforms already in place, such as the abolition of the Kafala system, ensuring a respectful and responsible tournament. Albalawi hopes that hosting the World Cup will further boost Saudi Arabia’s football development, aiming for a higher FIFA ranking and nurturing a competitive national team. With the construction of eight new stadiums, the tournament is set to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. With a commitment to building state-of-the-art infrastructure and creating opportunities for future generations, the 2034 World Cup will showcase Saudi Arabia's rise as a leader in world football. It’s a chance to share the nation’s rich culture, ambitious vision, and passion for the game with fans from every corner of the globe, making it a truly unforgettable event. #Vision2030 #SaudiArabia #SustainableGrowth #Innovation #GlobalLeadership #Progress #SaudiProLeague #KSA

Exploring the Transformative Power of Sport: A Decade of Change in Saudi Arabia. From historic restrictions to a sporting revolution, my recent journey through Saudi Arabia reflects the incredible impact of sports on a nation's evolution. Check out my article for some thoughts on the intersection of autocratic rule, sporting mega-events, and societal progress. #SportsDiplomacy #SaudiArabia #SportsEvolution

The CAF Super Cup will be played…..outside of Africa?? Net positive or net negative?? #playbookafrica #playbookmiddleeast The match, which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 27, 2024, will feature two Egyptian squads: Al Ahly, the current African Champion League holders, and Zamalek, the reigning African Confederation champions. The announcement of Riyadh as the host city highlights the growing partnership between the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) and Saudi Arabia, as this is not the first collaboration: Last year, Visit Saudi, the Saudi Arabian tourism authority, confirmed league sponsorship of the African Football League (AFL), and both CAF and Visit Saudi have expressed openness to extending their collaboration for future editions. And it certainly won’t be the last collaboration. ↓ So this begs the question, what does it mean to have one of the most prominent African football matches being played outside of Africa?? Well, this isn't the first time... The first time the CAF Super Cup was played outside Africa was on March 29, 2019, in Doha, Qatar. This match featured Raja Casablanca of Morocco against Tunisia's Esperance. As the 2022 World Cup host nation, Qatar used this event to train its staff and test its facilities in preparation for the World Cup. In addition, this upcoming Super Cup match is a bit of a “deja vu” case as these two teams already faced each other in Riyadh during the Egypt Cup in March 2024, where Al Ahly emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, another uniquely African game. I see the potential of these matches to engage a broader and more international audience, but I also see lost economic value for an African host city and its local businesses. Is this new trend a net positive or a net negative for African football?? For more news and analysis on the emerging sports economies of Africa and the Middle East, check out Playbook - Sports Business for Emerging Markets. __________ #linkedinsports  #sportsbusiness

🛑 Breaking News: Saudi Arabia Unveils Bold Plan to Host FIFA World Cup 2034 with 15 Cutting-Edge Stadiums and Five Host Cities 🇸🇦⚽️🔥 In a historic move, Saudi Arabia has launched an ambitious bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034, featuring 15 state-of-the-art stadiums across five dynamic cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM. Backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, this groundbreaking proposal promises a spectacular tournament with 48 teams. Riyadh is set to dazzle with eight new stadiums, including the 92,000-seat King Salman Stadium, designed for the opening and final matches. Each city will showcase unique, innovative designs, from Jeddah’s heritage-inspired stadiums to NEOM’s renewable energy-powered venue. The plan also includes extensive training facilities and over 230,000 accommodation rooms to meet FIFA’s standards. This bold vision reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sports, sustainability, and cutting-edge infrastructure, marking a new era for global football. #Saudi2034 #FIFAWorldCup #Vision2030 #SportsInnovation #SaudiProjects #GlobalFootball

This week, our special Olympic edition of the Ma'refa Brief looked into GCC's history in the Games and how sport is viewed in the region. Here’s a snapshot of some of the key data:   🏅 The UAE is participating in its 11th Summer Olympics, sending a team of 14 athletes to compete in five sports.   🏆 Sheikh Ahmed bin Hasher Al Maktoum won the UAE's first Olympic gold medal in double trap shooting at the 2004 Athens Olympics.   🥉 Saudi Arabia has competed in every Olympics since 1972, with its equestrian team winning bronze at the 2012 London Games.   ⚽ Football remains the most widely followed and participated sport in the Gulf, with around 30% of school-aged children engaging in football activities.   🏋️ Youth sports participation is on the rise in the UAE, with 72% of school-aged children involved in sports programs.   🌍 Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have announced their intentions to bid for the 2036 Olympics, following a strong track record of hosting mega-sporting events.   If you’d like more in-depth analysis or other insights like this, subscribe to The Ma’refa Brief on our website at https://lnkd.in/eZVzMRDQ.   #Olympics #ParisOlympics2024 #Sports #UAE #Saudi #Qatar #GCC #GulfCountries #Summer

The Saudi Pro League is rapidly becoming a global destination for top football talent, with major transfers from leading European leagues making headlines. This shift is a key part of Vision 2030's broader mission to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy by boosting non-oil sectors, including sports and tourism. As the league continues to attract star players, we’re seeing the potential for increased competition and growth in the Saudi sports industry. Beyond business, this development is positioning Saudi Arabia as a hub for international talent across multiple sectors. Curious about the impact these moves are having on the Saudi Pro League and the wider sports industry? Discover more in our latest article.👇 Read more here👇 https://lnkd.in/ew7cc4Za #SaudiProLeague #Vision2030 #GlobalTalent #SportsIndustry #SaudiArabia #FootballTransfers #SaudiExpansion #BusinessGrowth #SportsAndTourism #MiddleEastBusiness #AEI #TalentAttraction

Share of #Sports viewing increased significantly with the start of the Saudi football season! With the beginning of the Saudi League and Super Cup in August, the KSA TAM #data shows a remarkable five-fold increase in the share of the sports genre, from between 2-3% in June and July, respectively, to 12% in August among all Saudis. This surge in sports viewership is evident as sports programs dominated the viewing charts for August. Notably, four out of the top five highest-rated programs among Arabs were sports-related, highlighting the significant impact of football in the #Saudi market. For more details, refer to the MRC August Report.

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐬 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟑𝟒 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐁𝐢𝐝. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Sports has announced modifications to the designs of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup stadiums, aiming to meet the requirements for a potential 2034 World Cup bid. Source: مشاريع السعودية | Saudi Projects #SAUDI2034 #WorldCupBid #AsianCup #StadiumDesign #ArabNews #ArabTimes #ArabTimesNews