The CAF Awards 2024 are gearing up to honour Africa’s football stars in what promises to be a glamorous event at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco. Scheduled for Monday, the ceremony will celebrate the continent’s footballing brilliance over the past year.
The stage will be graced by renowned presenters Kate Scott and Jalal Bouzrara. Scott, with her glittering resume spanning CNN, SkySports, and CBS Sports, is undoubtedly a force in global sports broadcasting. Fluent in four languages and a host of prestigious events like the FIFA Ballon d’Or and Laureus World Sports Awards, her selection screams star power. She even went poetic about African football, calling it the “soul of the global game.”
Her co-host, Moroccan journalist Jalal Bouzrara, brings his own brand of experience to the table. With over 30 years in the game and a history of producing acclaimed sports programs, he seems like a natural fit for the occasion. Bouzrara expressed optimism about the growth of African football, citing the talent that consistently dazzles on the global stage. However, beyond this shiny accolades and media-friendly speeches, how much is really being done to support grassroots development, infrastructure, and the local leagues?
The shortlist of nominees includes stars like Achraf Hakimi, Ademola Lookman, Serhou Guirassy, Simon Adingra, and Inaki Williams. The continent produces extraordinary talent year after year, and these players continue to light up international leagues. Yet, back home, inadequate funding, corruption, and mismanagement plague the very system meant to nurture this talent.
Meanwhile, the CAF Executive Committee is also set to convene in Marrakech on the same day. Chaired by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the meeting will tackle the 2025 CAF calendar and other pressing issues.
The CAF Awards will no doubt celebrate incredible talent and bring joy to fans. Yet, amid the applause we hope that the real heart of African football, its grassroots and domestic leagues receives the attention it so desperately needs. Africa deserves more than just being the soul of the global game, it deserves to lead it.
