04:30African Football Confederation (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe boasted Africa Cup of Nations' (AFCON) highest viewership record during the 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.
"Approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide were watching the AFCON on TV, the highest amount in the history of the competition," he said.
He further claimed that the economy of Kodova, AFCON's host country this year, benefitted from the football match, saying "there is a clear connection between success in football and success in economic growth."
Motsepe said that these developments have given him confidence in the future of football and African nations' success in the sport.
"There's a new culture of commitment to develop football and that commitment gives me the confidence and I'm confident we will succeed even more," he added.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie called the sport central to 'preserving and celebrating our collective heritage', emphasising how it aligned with the African Union’s agenda on building a 'robust cultural identity.'
"It is apparent that in today's world, the sport serves as the cornerstone to unite our continent, transcending boundaries and differences," he said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino honoured former football executive Isa Hayatou during his speech after he served as CAF's leader for 29 years and the organisation's vice president thereafter. The Cameroonian sports administrator passed away in August this year after a long bout with illness.
Ethiopia Football Federation (EEF) President Isayad Jira Bosho was also present at the event and was seen posing for photos with both Motsepe and Infantino after the program concluded.
This year's assembly marked Ethiopia’s second opportunity to host the CAF Congress after having done so in 2017.
Initially, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kinshasa was picked as the host for the event but due to undisclosed reasons, the DRC announced it is unable to hold the program, according to the EEF.
Back of the net! CAF pres boasts record viewership for AFCON at 46th General Assembly in Addis Ababa
African Football Confederation (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe boasted Africa Cup of Nations' (AFCON) highest viewership record during the 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.
"Approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide were watching the AFCON on TV, the highest amount in the history of the competition," he said.
He further claimed that the economy of Kodova, AFCON's host country this year, benefitted from the football match, saying "there is a clear connection between success in football and success in economic growth."
Motsepe said that these developments have given him confidence in the future of football and African nations' success in the sport.
"There's a new culture of commitment to develop football and that commitment gives me the confidence and I'm confident we will succeed even more," he added.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie called the sport central to 'preserving and celebrating our collective heritage', emphasising how it aligned with the African Union’s agenda on building a 'robust cultural identity.'
"It is apparent that in today's world, the sport serves as the cornerstone to unite our continent, transcending boundaries and differences," he said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino honoured former football executive Isa Hayatou during his speech after he served as CAF's leader for 29 years and the organisation's vice president thereafter. The Cameroonian sports administrator passed away in August this year after a long bout with illness.
Ethiopia Football Federation (EEF) President Isayad Jira Bosho was also present at the event and was seen posing for photos with both Motsepe and Infantino after the program concluded.
This year's assembly marked Ethiopia’s second opportunity to host the CAF Congress after having done so in 2017.
Initially, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kinshasa was picked as the host for the event but due to undisclosed reasons, the DRC announced it is unable to hold the program, according to the EEF.
African Football Confederation (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe boasted Africa Cup of Nations' (AFCON) highest viewership record during the 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.
"Approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide were watching the AFCON on TV, the highest amount in the history of the competition," he said.
He further claimed that the economy of Kodova, AFCON's host country this year, benefitted from the football match, saying "there is a clear connection between success in football and success in economic growth."
Motsepe said that these developments have given him confidence in the future of football and African nations' success in the sport.
"There's a new culture of commitment to develop football and that commitment gives me the confidence and I'm confident we will succeed even more," he added.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie called the sport central to 'preserving and celebrating our collective heritage', emphasising how it aligned with the African Union’s agenda on building a 'robust cultural identity.'
"It is apparent that in today's world, the sport serves as the cornerstone to unite our continent, transcending boundaries and differences," he said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino honoured former football executive Isa Hayatou during his speech after he served as CAF's leader for 29 years and the organisation's vice president thereafter. The Cameroonian sports administrator passed away in August this year after a long bout with illness.
Ethiopia Football Federation (EEF) President Isayad Jira Bosho was also present at the event and was seen posing for photos with both Motsepe and Infantino after the program concluded.
This year's assembly marked Ethiopia’s second opportunity to host the CAF Congress after having done so in 2017.
Initially, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kinshasa was picked as the host for the event but due to undisclosed reasons, the DRC announced it is unable to hold the program, according to the EEF.