JOHANNESBURG, October 7, 2026 : The African 7-a-Side Football Confederation (AFC7), the independent continental governing body dedicated to the organization, regulation, and growth of 7.a.side football across Africa, has officially announced the commencement of its operational phase. Founded on August 1, 2025, and presided over by Mr. Bamnga Jacques Martinien, the institution will launch its inaugural official continental competitions starting in July 2027.
Expanding Affiliations and Grassroots Outreach
To establish a solid foundation across the continent, the AFC7 currently counts three national associations officially affiliated as full member bodies, with several additional national federations undergoing advanced application reviews in compliance with the confederation's statutes and eligibility criteria.As part of its foundational deployment strategy, the leadership launched a continuous continental rollout tour on March 28, 2026. This initiative focuses on introducing the discipline to national sports ministries, promulgating the official Laws of the Game, engaging grassroots football stakeholders, and actively assisting emerging national federations with structural organization across the continent's 54 nations.
Five Strategic Regional Hubs
The continental architecture is designed to manage 54 prospective member federations through five distinct geographic zones, each operating under a regional president and a localized hub:* North Zone: Headquartered in Casablanca, overseeing 6 nations.* West Zone: Headquartered in Dakar, overseeing 15 nations.* Central Zone: Headquartered in Yaoundé, overseeing 8 nations.* East Zone: Headquartered in Kigali, overseeing 15 nations.* Southern Zone: Headquartered in Johannesburg, overseeing 10 nations and designated as the official pilot zone for the 2027 launch.
Sustainable Corporate Governance
The confederation relies on a transparent dual entity operational framework separating institutional governance from commercial rights. While the AFC7 manages regulations, ethics, education, and sporting integrity, its exclusive commercial partner NOVA AFC7 (PTY) LTD (Registration Number: 2026/787651/07), also directed by Mr. Martinien manages sponsorships, marketing, merchandising, the official NOVA BALL, and competition broadcasting rights. In alignment with its sustainable development goals, 80 percent of all commercial revenues generated will be directly reinvested into expanding 7.a.side football infrastructure across Africa.