The Confederation of African Football’s headquarters will remain in Cairo at least for the next 10 years after Egypt’s parliament approved the CAF Headquarters Agreement which also recognised Africa’s football governing body as an international non-governmental organization.
Under this agreement CAF will enjoy several advantages, immunities and privileges similar to those granted to international organisations and diplomatic missions. The agreement will automatically renew, CAF said.
Egypt’s House of Representatives passed the agreement in what was its final legislative procedure before being effected.
The agreement between CAF and the Egyptian government had been signed in February this year by CAF President Ahmad Ahmad and Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy.
The agreement seeks to facilitate CAF’s mission to develop, promote and improve the popularity of football in the African continent in accordance with the CAF statutes, the body said in a statement.
“Today is a great day for African football. Finally, we have come to the end of a long journey that will shape the future of African football. Egypt has always been home to CAF and we are proud to formalize another extension of the Headquarters Agreement,’ Ahmad said
“Personally, I express my gratitude to the Egyptian Authorities led by His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for the commitment towards making the agreement a reality.”
Egypt has hosted the headquarters of CAF for several decades. Three years ago, Ahmad, while on a trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, denied speculation that one of the agendas of his visit then was a possible relocation of the CAF headquarters.
