Lesotho could benefit from increased investment in African football following commitments made at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Strategy Conference held in Cabo Verde from October 7 to 9.
Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) president LijaneNthunya and Likuena head coach Bob Mafoso were among the delegation representing the country at the three-day conference, which brought together football leaders, national team coaches and technical experts to discuss the development of the game ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe announced that annual grants to each of the organisation’s 54 member associations had increased from M2 million to M12 million over four years, providing federations with greater financial capacity to invest in football development.
CAF has also increased its annual allocation for club football from M300 million to M900 million, while clubs qualifying for the preliminary rounds of its competitions have been receiving USD100,000 each from the 2025/26 season.
The funding increases could create opportunities for LeFA to strengthen football structures in Lesotho, particularly in infrastructure development, coaching, youth competitions and the administration of the game.
However, Motsepe cautioned that increased funding alone would not guarantee success, challenging member associations to demonstrate tangible results and raise the standard of football to world-class levels.
“There is a big gap between good plans, good intentions and what we do practically in terms of investments and results. We are judged by results,” Motsepe told delegates.
He said CAF’s priority was to ensure that all 54 member associations developed sustainable football systems capable of competing at the highest level.
For Lesotho, this presents an opportunity to translate increased continental investment into improved player development, stronger domestic competitions and better preparation for national teams.
The conference also highlighted the importance of infrastructure, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino calling for every African country to have the facilities required to host international matches on home soil.
Infantino said the number of African countries unable to stage international matches at home had declined from 26 to 14, with 40 countries now able to host their matches domestically.
He stressed that young players should have opportunities to fulfil their potential regardless of where they were born, calling for continued investment in facilities, coaching and competitions.
“A child’s opportunity cannot be limited by the place where he or she is born,” Infantino said.
His remarks underline the importance of ensuring that football facilities in Lesotho meet international standards, allowing national teams to play at home and reducing the challenges associated with hosting matches abroad.
The conference was held against the backdrop of Africa’s strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where nine of the continent’s 10 representatives progressed beyond the group stage.
The achievement reinforced the need for African football authorities to build on the progress through better technical preparation, tactical development and sustainable investment.
FIFA chief of global football development Arsène Wenger, who joined the technical discussions, said African teams had improved their tactical organisation and discipline but warned that small details could determine results at the highest level.
CAF’s strategy also focused on strengthening youth structures, improving refereeing, developing women’s football and expanding commercial and broadcasting partnerships to support the long-term growth of the game.
For LeFA, the challenge will be to ensure that the country benefits from the continent’s growing investment and converts available resources into measurable improvements across all levels of football.
As African football looks towards the 2030 World Cup, the message from Cabo Verde was that financial support must be matched by effective implementation, accountability and sustained development.
Summary
- Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) president LijaneNthunya and Likuena head coach Bob Mafoso were among the delegation representing the country at the three-day conference, which brought together football leaders, national team coaches and technical experts to discuss the development of the game ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
- CAF Stategy Conference, The conference was held against the backdrop of Africa’s strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where nine of the continent’s 10 representatives progressed beyond the group stage.
- The conference was held against the backdrop of Africa’s strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where nine of the continent’s 10 representatives progressed beyond the group stage.
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