The Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) held, in Cotonou, from 21^st to 23^rd August 2025, its periodic meeting of the Executive Committee in person, under the presidency of Mr. Jean-Claude TALON, President of CAT. “It is with pleasure that I welcome my African brothers to Cotonou. We will have a few days of reflection and foresight on African tennis,” declared the President of CAT.

The official opening took place on the 21^st August at the Novotel in Cotonou, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Sports of Benin, Dr. Bellarminus Kakpovi, accompanied by the Director of Elite Sport, Mr. Bonaventure Codjia.

Taking part in this meeting were Mr. Jean-Claude Talon, President of CAT, Ms. Fatime Kanté, Women’s Representative within CAT, Mr. Abdelaziz Laaraf, Vice President and President of Zone I (North Africa), Mr. Ifedayo Akindoju, Vice President and President of Zone II (West Africa), Mr. Germain Ickonga Akindou, Vice President and President of Zone III (Central Africa), Mr. Jonas Alberto Junior, Vice President and President of Zone V (Southern Africa), as well as Mr. Hichem Riani, Secretary General.

In addition to the implementation of the strategic plan initiated under the current presidency of CAT, which aims to strengthen inter-African cooperation for the development of tennis on the continent and to create the conditions conducive to the emergence of new talents capable of representing Africa at the highest level, all the items on the agenda were addressed and discussed during the four half-days of work. The discussions focused in particular on the organization of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled under a new format during the first week of December, on the preparation of the 2025 CAT Annual General Meeting, on the development projects of African tennis for the coming years, as well as on the competitions planned for the second half of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. The members also examined cooperation and partnership protocols between CAT and its various partners, including the International Tennis Federation (ITF), before ratifying the recommendations issued by the commissions, notably the one dedicated to wheelchair tennis. The Intercontinental Team Cup for Under 12s, the administrative, financial and constitutional affairs of CAT, the “rebranding” projects of CAT, the strengthening of the digitalization of its activities and services with its member federations, as well as the issue of tennis infrastructures in Africa were also the subject of in-depth debates.

“We want African tennis to produce champions like other continents. Our objective, since our election two years ago, has been to advance the tennis of our continent so that it can compete with the others,” emphasized Mr. Jean-Claude Talon.

Ultimately, the decisions adopted during this meeting, held under optimal conditions and in a constructive atmosphere, once again reflect the determination of the Confederation of African Tennis to consolidate Africa’s place in world tennis and to affirm its ambitions through concerted and structured actions.