BY KUNLE SOLAJA
For the second time in about 30 years, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be relocating its headquarters in Egypt.
At the moment, the continental football governing body is located at 6th October City, a suburb of the mega city of Cairo.
It relocated their in the early 1990s from Gabalaya area of the Cairo at the bank of the Nile River. However, Egyptian outlet, Ahram has reported that CAF has signed a cooperation protocol with the Egyptian Administrative Capital, along with the Egyptian Sports Ministry, to build a new headquarters for the football governing body.
Egypt’s Minister of Sports, Ashraf Sobhy, attended the signing ceremony on Thursday and expressed the country’s support for CAF’s plans for African football development.
In a statement released on Friday, Egypt’s sports ministry said, “The protocol outlines the establishment of a new headquarters for CAF, which will be relocated from the 6th of October City to the New Administrative Capital.”
According to the statement, the new CAF headquarters will be built on a 20-acre plot in the northern part of the R3 area in the New Administrative Capital.
The Administrative Capital company will be responsible for constructing the new headquarters, following the directives of the Egyptian president.
Sobhy emphasized Egypt’s commitment to supporting and developing African football, stating that the new headquarters would serve as a significant landmark in the New Administrative Capital.
“The relocation of CAF headquarters to the New Administrative Capital confirms Egypt’s status as the mecca of Africa and the world, showcasing its advancements in sports infrastructure,” said Egypt’s Minister of Sports.
Meanwhile, CAF President Patrice Motsepe praised Egypt’s role in football development on the continent and emphasized the importance of the New Administrative Capital and Egypt’s leadership in Africa.
“My desire has always been to keep the CAF headquarters in Egypt, and it should remain in Egypt,” said Motsepe, as quoted in the statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Sports.
Motsepe further expressed the Confederation’s appreciation for the administrative capital by saying, “Building a new headquarters for CAF in east Cairo is a testament to the Confederation’s gratitude towards the administrative capital.”
The 61-year-old South African, Motsepe, extended his gratitude to the Egyptian people for their support and contributions to CAF over the years.
In February 2020, Egypt signed an agreement whereby Cairo will host the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for ten more years.
The agreement was signed by Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi and CAF former chief Ahmad Ahmad.
The agreement stipulates that the host country offers utilities, including electricity, water, gas, sanitation, telephone, and civil protection for CAF, in addition to a package of tax and customs privileges.
The hosting agreement between CAF and the government started in 2007 for five years and was automatically extended in 2012 for another five years before expiring in 2017.
Egypt, which was one of the founders of the CAF in 1957, has been hosting the headquarters since its headquaters relocated from Sudanese Football Association in Khartoum until it experienced a fire outbreak.
