2 Day CAF Symposium in Rabat: Explores the Future of African Football [The View Points]

The view points:1. Recession in the Organization  of AFCON2. Expanson to 24 teams AFCON tournament3. Grassroots football and the development of Academies 4. African national teams cheating at Age grade developmental competitions5. Under development and lack of due attention on Women football in Africa

The symposium will mark the attendance of Gianni Infantino, president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Ahmad Ahmad, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Federation (FRMF), other presidents of African federations, and international footballers.

The event will comprise discussions on African football competitions, youth training, and the organization of upcoming African Cup of nations.

CAF will also discuss its new plan to expand the number of participant teams in the African tournament. The confederation intends to boost participants’ number from 16 to 24.

The symposium will be followed by CAF Extraordinary General Assembly, which will be held on July 21 in Rabat

“The two meetings will be devoted to the discussion and validation of the recommendations emerging from the symposium,” said CAF in a press release.

For his part, Lekjaa, who is also a member of the CAF’s executive board, said that Morocco is ready to replace Cameroon as the host of the 2019 African Football Cup of Nations cup in 2019 African Cup of Nations, in case the latter is unable to hold it due to “lack of capacity.”

Cameroon has been reportedly “experiencing delays in the execution of various Nations Cup infrastructural projects,” according to sports platform Inside World Football.

The president of the Algerian Football Federation, Kheireddine Zetchi, has also expressed his country’s desire to organize the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

Morocco was expected to host the African in 2015, but fears of Ebola spread led Moroccan authorities to ask CAF to postpone the event. The postponement request was rejected, and the organization of that year’s cup went to Equatorial Guinea.