The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was founded in 1957 by four nations, particularly from the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt, and Sudan participated in initial talks that gave birth to the African football governing body.
The talks were held during a FIFA Congress organized in 1956 in Europe.
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“The wheels that led to the birth of CAF were actually set in motion outside Africa, in Lisbon, Portugal in June 1956.
“The Portuguese capital was playing host to the FIFA Congress, and it was the four African nations in attendance (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Africa) who carried the African confederation to the baptismal font by taking advantage of that gathering to discuss matters of common interest,” a statement from CAF read.
In less than seven months, the four nationals met again in Sudan to lay the blueprint for the establishment of the organization.
“Following the FIFA Congress in Lisbon, the four nations resolved to convene again in Khartoum, Sudan, in February 1957 to draft statutes and to discuss the staging of the first Africa Cup of Nations.
“The historic meeting that confirmed the official establishment of CAF was held on 8 February 1957 at the Grand Hotel in Khartoum,” the statement added.
After the formation of CAF, Egyptian international Abdel Abdallah Salem was picked as the first President.
Two days after the official formation of CAF, the general assembly convened again in Sudan and after the meeting, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament was born.
Egypt defeated the hosts Sudan in the final of the maiden edition of the tournament to clinch the trophy which was donated by Salem.
Below is a list of CAF presidents from 1957 to date.
Abdel Abdallah Salem (Egypt): 1957 – 1958
Abdel Mostafa (Egypt): 1958 – 1968
Abdel Halim Mohamed (Sudan): 1968 – 1972
Ydnekatchew Tessema (Ethiopia): 1972 – 1987
Abdel Halim Mohamed (Sudan): 1987 – 1988
Issa Hayatou: (Cameroon): 1988 – 2017
Ahmad Ahmad: (Madagascar: 2017 – 2021
Patrice Motsepe: (South Africa) 2021 –
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