find it a huge financial burden to take part in the tournament, on some occasions, countries pull out of qualify- ing rounds because of financial reasons, like Mauritania did recently.


Lack of commercial incentives has seriously affected football in Africa. Today, stadiums hold a fraction of the audiences who once sat enthralled in anticipation, and now the prospects for African league football look bleak. Young talents are migrating to ply their trade in the lucrative leagues elsewhere because revenues and interest are falling locally.


The problem of mismanagement at CAF is lesser than the scenario with local FAs across much of the conti- nent. Sports facilities are crumbling due to corruption, lack of investment and neglect by local football admini- strations, with CAF not doing much to check corruption and encourage positive growth within the local asso- ciations.


It is no secret that CAF has a big work to do in bringing back the pride to African football. Today a whole new generation of African youths are relishing the prospect of supporting football clubs thousands miles away every weekend, much more worrying is that thousands of young football stars in Africa are dreaming of play- ing in those leagues also. If this trend continues, then I am afraid, but I hope and pray we do not get to that.


42


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