Wenger to lead CAF review of Africa’s 2026 World Cup campaign

FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, will lead a panel examining Africa’s record-breaking 2026 World Cup campaign at the Confederation of African Football’s strategy conference in Cabo Verde next week. CAF said the conference would run from October 7 to 9 and bring together coaches from the continent’s 54 member associations, football legends and other stakeholders. The wider event will focus on football development and sustainability in Africa.

Wenger will be joined by coaches including Cabo Verde’s Bubista, Egypt’s Hossam Hassan, Morocco’s Mohamed Ouahbi and Democratic Republic of Congo coach Sébastien Desabre. CAF said the panel would focus on the tournament, where nine of Africa’s 10 participants advanced to the knockout stages. Bubista led Cabo Verde to its first World Cup appearance.

CAF described him as the coach behind the country’s “heroics” at the global finals and said he would share his experience of the team’s performance. Ouahbi guided Morocco to the quarter-finals, while Hassan led Egypt to its first World Cup victory and was involved in the team’s campaign, which included a match against Argentina. Desabre guided DR Congo back to the global tournament after a 52-year absence and took the team to the round of 32, according to CAF.

CAF said the conference would assess the performance of Africa’s 10 representatives and consider how progress at the 2026 tournament could support preparations for 2030. Several sessions will be broadcast by CAF TV, while other discussions involving coaches and technical officials will be held privately. The organisation said details of the live programme would be released later.