Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe has praised African Club Association (ACA) Chairman Engineer Hersi Ally Said for his work in advancing the interests of football clubs across Africa.
Motsepe delivered the praise yesterday, Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Dar es Salaam during his visit to inspect preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
In his speech, Motsepe mentioned Hersi among the football leaders he closely follows and expressed his pride in the way they are carrying out their responsibilities to develop the sport.
“I see our Chairman of the African Club Association, the good work you are doing, I am proud. I am also very proud of the work Wallace (Karia) is doing for football,” he said.
Motsepe also expressed hope that Tanzanian clubs will continue performing well in international competitions, naming Yanga and Simba among the teams capable of further promoting Tanzania’s name in African football.
Hersi and His Role in African Football
Hersi Said was elected the first chairman of the African Club Association in 2023 during the organisation’s launch in Cairo, Egypt. ACA was established as a platform to represent and defend the interests of football clubs across Africa.
The ACA’s responsibilities include working with club leaders from different parts of Africa on policy matters, commercial opportunities, good governance and strengthening clubs’ ability to compete at international level.