The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reached a $50 million out-of-court settlement with former marketing partner Lagardère Sports, effectively concluding a protracted legal dispute. The announcement was made during CAF’s 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa on October 22.
CAF’s finance committee vice chairman, Andrew Kamanga, confirmed that the settlement was paid in two equal tranches, with the final installment completed at the end of last year. The conflict originated in 2019 when CAF abruptly terminated its decade-long, $1 billion contract with Lagardère Sports, which had exclusive marketing, sponsorship, and television rights for all CAF competitions for 20 years.
The termination followed two court rulings stating that the agreement had been awarded without proper tender. In response, Lagardère Sports, now known as Lagardère Unlimited, initiated legal proceedings seeking compensation for the early termination of the contract.
Following negotiations, both parties opted for an out-of-court settlement, allowing CAF to avoid a lengthy legal battle. The resolution marks a significant turning point in CAF’s relationship with its commercial partners and opens the door for new opportunities in the evolving landscape of African football.
