CONCEPTUALISING CONFEDERATION OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL AND OPERATIONALISING SPORTS ARBITRATION IN AFRICA

Abstract

Disputes are inevitable in human interaction. The Court of Arbitration for Sport is a platform for dispute resolution. This paper examined the legal and institutional framework governing sports arbitration in Africa, focusing on the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It analyzed CAF and FIFA’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms and the appellate role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The paper also explored national legal frameworks, highlighting recurring challenges such as lex arbitri, enforcement barriers, limited access to justice, and political interference. Representative case law was assessed to illustrate these dynamics. The paper proposed practical reforms for a more coherent and accessible Africa-centered arbitration system, advocating a balanced approach that retains CAS’s neutrality while enhancing continental capacity through harmonized legislation, regional arbitration networks, and inclusive access measures.