KIGALI, RWANDA – Rwandan President Paul Kagame told the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee meeting on Saturday that changing mindsets and doing things differently would bring about the change they seek to improve and elevate African football.
Addressing the CAF Executive Committee meeting held at Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday, 15 May 2021 chaired by CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe and attended by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, former Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger and Botswana Football Association (BFA) President and EXCO member, Maclean Letshwiti including other distinguished guests, Kagame urged all the gathered football leaders to improve football in the continent.
Kagame said he was extremely honoured together with his country to be hosting the CAF EXCO meeting.
“It is a badge of honour to have all of you here. We have a duty to football, but we also have a duty to Africa and Africans as well. We need to aspire to deliver as leaders on our mandate, none of us here, does not know our problems, as football organisations, we know what we represent and what we are about. Our task is to improve football in the continent. Let’s change our mindsets and do things differently. Football is part and parcel of the politics of our development, the development of the continent. I’m happy to be addressing this new turning point in football where we now have new leaders, both young and old,” said Kagame.
He said it is inexplicable that Africa endowed with so much, is always lagging behind in everything including football.
“We are the change we seek. We have enormous talent and I urge all of you here today to help nurture it. Also let me recognise Mr. Arsene Wenger, who used to coach my beloved club, Arsenal for gracing us with his presence,” Kagame concluded.
The main items on the Executive Committee Agenda included the implementation of the CAF Pan-African Schools Football Championship, the CAF/FIFA Refereeing Agreement and the FIFA-CAF USD 1 billion Infrastructure Development project. Amongst some of the matters discussed included the 2022-2024 competitions calendar and the challenges relating to the pre-match Covid19 testing, EXCO resolutions on the hosts of the opened bids; CAF Champions League 2020/2021, CAF Confederation Cup 2020/2021, Women Champions League 2021, U20 Africa Cup of Nations 2023, U17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023 and Beach Soccer 2022.
Prior to the EXCO meeting, the CAF President held several meetings including with the six CAF Zonal Unions Presidents (CECAFA, COSAFA, UNAF, UNIFFAC, WAFU A, WAFU
