CAF Approves $50,000 Annual Salary for Member Association Presidents

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved a groundbreaking proposal to pay each member association president an annual salary of $50,000. This decision was unveiled during CAF’s 2024 Congress held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

This new policy benefits all 54 CAF member associations, The funds for the salary will be drawn from the annual $400,000 allocation CAF already provides to each member association.

CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe emphasized the importance of this decision in supporting African football governance.

“The new financial package is part of CAF’s broader commitment to providing greater financial stability and fostering the growth of football across the continent,” Motsepe said during the congress.

The congress also featured important financial announcements, including CAF’s settlement with former marketing partner Lagardere Sports. CAF confirmed that it paid $50 million to resolve a legal dispute that arose after CAF terminated a $1 billion marketing and broadcasting agreement with the French company in 2019. The deal was ended after court rulings deemed the contract improperly tendered.

CAF’s finance committee vice-chairman, Andrew Kamanga, revealed that the settlement was paid in two equal installments, the last of which was completed in 2023.

CAF’s financial report also showed a significant improvement, reducing its losses from $28.9 million to $9.2 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, marking a strong turnaround from a $45 million deficit the previous year. The recovery is attributed to strategic reforms introduced by

CAF’s management in 2021, including a 100% increase in financial support to member associations, which rose from $200,000 in 2021 to $400,000 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

CAF projects a net profit of $11.7 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, a historic achievement that signals the federation’s continued financial health. This success has allowed CAF to increase its investment in football development programs, including schools football, match officials, and television production.

The congress also confirmed the introduction of a $50,000 allowance for clubs eliminated in the preliminary stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, further demonstrating CAF’s commitment to grassroots development and supporting clubs at all levels.

As CAF continues to focus on financial stability and football development under President Patrice Motsepe’s leadership, African football is poised for substantial growth, benefiting not only top-tier competitions but also member associations and grassroots programs across the continent.