The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is now an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) following an unprecedented accord the body and Egyptian authorities signed in Cairo, where CAF is headquartered.
Since his election as CAF president in 2017, Ahmad Ahmad had been clamouring for an NGO status for the continent’s football governing body.
The status grants CAF, as an entity, an international legal personality, which comes with several privileges and rights such as the right to enter into treaties, right to immunity, right to send and receive legations, and the right to bring international claims to obtain reparation for damages.
It was signed by Ahmad and Egypt’s minister for youths and sports Dr Ashraf Sobhy in the presence of the country’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
“The agreement recognizes the international legal personality of CAF as an international non-governmental organization,” CAF said in a statement.
“Under this agreement CAF shall benefit from several advantages, immunities and privileges similar to those granted to international organizations and diplomatic missions. The agreement is for a period of 10 years and shall be automatically renewed.”
The agreement comes at a time when the PwC audit described CAF as “unreliable and not trustworthy”, revealing transactions of about $20 million which showed “little or no supporting documentation”.
