AAF Unveils Bold 2026 Agenda to Drive Futsal Growth Across Africa

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The Association Africaine de Futsal (AAF) has announced an ambitious slate of tournaments, international engagements, and grassroots initiatives aimed at accelerating the development of futsal across Africa in 2026.

Speaking at a press conference, the Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr. Edewor Oputa, revealed that the continental futsal body is positioning the sport for unprecedented growth through youth-focused competitions, school-based programmes, and strategic global exposure.

According to Mr. Oputa, the AAF will begin its 2026 activities with the Under-17 Futsal International Tournament scheduled to take place in Kenya, where young talents from different African countries are expected to compete.

“The Under-17 International Tournament in Kenya will bring together some of the finest young futsal players on the continent,” he said. “It represents the first step in a series of activities designed to strengthen futsal development and visibility across Africa.”

He further disclosed that the AAF will participate in the Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland, where futsal will feature as a side event, while preparations are also underway for the association’s first-ever African Futsal Inter-School Tournament, slated for Togo.

In a major highlight of the year, the AAF announced that world-renowned Brazilian futsal legend, Falcao, will tour three African countries in March 2026. The tour is expected to focus on capacity building, technical development, and motivation for emerging futsal players and coaches across the continent.

Mr. Oputa reaffirmed the association’s commitment to embedding futsal within Africa’s educational and sporting structures, noting that schools, tertiary institutions, and football clubs remain central to the AAF’s development strategy.

“Our vision is to develop futsal from the grassroots to elite levels across Africa,” he said. “We are working diligently with FIFA, CAF, and national football federations to ensure that African futsal attains global relevance and competitiveness by the year 2035.”

He added that the AAF’s 2026 calendar also includes participation in the Youth Olympic Games scheduled to hold in Senegal later in the year, where futsal will again be featured as a side event.

The association outlined its key 2026 engagements to include the Under-17 Futsal International Tournament in Kenya in May, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, the African Futsal Inter-School Tournament in Togo in August, and the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal from October 31 to November 13, 2026.

The AAF has called on schools, teams, and futsal stakeholders across Africa to register and participate in its programmes through its official website, www.aafutsal.com.

“We call on all stakeholders to support this vision,” Mr. Oputa said. “Together, we can grow futsal and create new opportunities for young Africans through the sport.”

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