CAF boss Motsepe urges African football to learn from past failures ahead of 2030 World Cup

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe has called on African football leaders to learn from past failures and implement the necessary reforms to improve the continent’s performance at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Addressing the media during the CAF Strategic Conference in Cape Verde, Motsepe says Africa must look beyond its previous disappointments and concentrate on the measures required to compete more effectively on football’s biggest stage.

He stressed the importance of conducting an honest assessment of past performances, reviewing existing policies and identifying areas that require improvement as the continent begins preparations for the next World Cup.

The CAF president believes a clear understanding of the challenges that have hindered African teams will be essential to building a stronger foundation for future success.

His remarks underline the need for African football authorities to move beyond analysing results and focus on practical steps that can improve the continent’s competitiveness at international level.

These include examining current football development strategies, assessing the effectiveness of existing structures and determining what changes are needed to help African nations compete against the world’s leading teams.

The 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with centenary matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, presents another opportunity for African football to demonstrate its progress on the global stage.

Morocco’s involvement as a co-host will also make the tournament particularly significant for the continent, although the broader ambition remains to see an African nation challenge for the title.

Motsepe has repeatedly expressed his desire to see an African country win the World Cup, an achievement no nation from the continent has managed since the tournament began in 1930.

Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana have all reached the quarter-finals, with Ghana coming closest to the semi-finals in 2010 before losing to Uruguay on penalties.

For African football to take the next step, however, the emphasis must be on sustained development rather than short-term ambitions.

Motsepe’s message places responsibility on football administrators and other stakeholders to evaluate their decisions, address weaknesses and ensure that lessons from previous tournaments translate into meaningful improvements.

The challenge for the continent will be to turn those assessments into effective policies and long-term programmes capable of strengthening national teams and improving their chances of success.

With preparations for 2030 expected to intensify, Africa’s football authorities face an important period in which decisions on development, planning and investment could shape the continent’s prospects.

Motsepe’s call is therefore a reminder that future success will depend not only on the talent available across Africa but also on the quality of the structures, planning and support put in place to maximise that talent.