African Football Officials Praise Addis Ababa Development, Support Ethiopia's Bid to AFCON 2029

Addis Ababa October 24/2024 (ENA) Participants of the 46th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF praised the urban development of the city and the good reception they were accorded throughout their stay.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) 46th Ordinary General Assembly was held in Addis Ababa recently.

Mahmoud Hammami, Executive Director of the North African Football Union (UNAF), explained that he had “a very positive impression and is happy to be in Ethiopia by the warm reception accorded to the CAF delegation and hospitality, as well as the attachment of sports fans, including government officials to football.”

Stating his impression while touring Addis Ababa city, Hammami said, “When we visited the city, we saw a major renaissance, huge constructions, cleanliness, good reception and vitality.”

The progress he witnessed in Ethiopia has made him proud, inducing his optimism that the country will achieve greater development in the future.

According to what we have seen, Ethiopia today, is an advanced country that others are proud of, and we are optimistic about a greater future, he said.

Stating government’s commitment to supporting football, he said, “We were happy when the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that they are ready to host the 2029 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This is an indicator of the extent to which the government is committed to supporting football in Ethiopia.” 

Mutasim Gafar, who is a member of the Executive Committee of the CAF and President of the Sudan Football Association (SFA) on his part expressed his pleasure by the warm welcome he received in Addis Ababa. 

 

Ethiopia and Sudan are considered founders of the CAF and they have a prosperous football history.

We were happy to participate in the CAF 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, he said, adding that since our arrival in Ethiopia there has been a great reception as well as hospitality and we would like to extend gratitude to the government and people of Ethiopia.

He added “We are very close peoples, Sudan and Ethiopia worked to establish the Confederation of African Football since 1957.”

Moatasem stressed that Ethiopia deserves to host the 2029 AFCON due to its history, the growing football and the desire of the public, of course completing the necessity of the required procedures.

Meanwhile, Augustino Maduot Parek, Vice President of the East and Central African Football Association and President of the South Sudan Football Association, explained that the warm reception is nothing new to Ethiopia.

 

“The reception is excellent as usual and we are not surprised to come to Ethiopia, which is our second country and our home, and the reception was very wonderful.” 

He expressed his support for Ethiopia’s request to host the 2029 AFCON.

“As Vice President of Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Ethiopia is part of African football, I automatically support this request and there are different procedures that must be passed through the Executive Office.”