Two events however came to remind us about certain realities we live with, which is very shocking.

2010 started with an abominable drama, the attack on the Togolese bus traveling for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Orange in the Angolan province of Cabinda. The tournament was for the first time being organised by a Portuguese speaking country and the attack by a group of rebels led to the death of Assistant coach Abalo Amelete and the Communication officer Stanislas Ocloo. It also incapacitated goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale and became a trauma for the entire delegation.

A lot was said and even written and there were accusing fingers pointed at the Confederation’s head. I do not want to be exonorated from my responsibilities but just to recall that CAF is not a State, that the body has no army, and that its role is to ensure the organising country respects the terms of the hosting agreement. Its mission is, apart from the smooth holding of the competition, to bring peace, friendship and fraternity.

2010 ended with the suspension of several Africans, including three members of the Executive Committee of CAF by FIFA. Who would have imagined that such a scandal would have engulfed the continent. The sanction meted out by the Ethics Committee of FIFA came as a huge surprise to us. Those concerned have already sought redress in the various jurisdictions of appeal. It is still premature to talk about it when the final decisions have not been made. I would want to recall here that CAF is the guarantor of its statutes, its laws and regulations that it applies to all actors of the game including referees, administrators, and even those who in one way or the other are involved in the game.

It is difficult in such painful and challenging conditions to speak of what takes place in our respective stadia. But how can we not pay glowing tribute to South Africa that brought pride to the continent. What did they not say before the World Cup? That South Africa will not be able to host the competition, that there will be no fans in the stadiums, that foreign visitors will not make it, and that security will be a problem. But the events spoke for themselves. Africa gave a strong signal to the rest of the World to the extent that the President of the International Olympic Committee IOC, Jacques Rogge suggested the candidature of an African city to host the Olympic Games.

World Cup

It would really be a good thing if that wish were to come true as there were virtually no criticisms following the organisation of the World Cup. On the contrary, I received several complaints from our World Cup representatives. Apart from Ghana that reached the quarter finals and being the third African team to reach that milestone, the other five representatives did not go past the first round. It is not the role of CAF to interfere in the management of respective national federations. But like many of us I would say we were not totally disappointed by the results. This has come to prove that we still have to do a lot for our football. There is something still lacking which could make it rival the best and overcome adversity. Our teams were never out-rightly dominated, and neither were they inferior to their rivals.

African football has not really attained the stability it seemed to be portraying following the first games of the 2012 African Cup qualifiers. The so call underdogs seem to have woken up from slumber and installed themselves at the top of their respective groups at the detriment of Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in particular. Botswana and Niger have emerged as strong forces and it seems to be a good lesson of hope.

African football is growing by leaps and bounds year after year. African football is progressing day after day. Our clubs are getting more and more organised and the players are getting more and more experienced. The work ethic especially at the base is changing and we shall have an opportunity to see that during the second edition of the CHAN to take place in a few weeks in Sudan. It is on this note of hope that I will be concluding this balance sheet of the year full of tears and joys. I would love to thank Mustapha Fahmy who for close to three decades served African football under sometimes very difficult circumstances. His qualities have seen him being solicited by FIFA which should give us some form of satisfaction and hope for the future.

The future lies on the interim Secretary General Hicham El Amrani, and especially the team based in Cairo who have spared no effort to help CAF and its 53 member associations meet key challenges. I will end by thanking the executive committee for their work in shaping the organisation so that there will be only one winner, African football.

CAF President Issa Hayatou at the 33rd General Assembly of the continental governing body in Khartoum, Sudan.