Mr. Germain Ickonga Akindou, Vice President of the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) and President of Zone III – Central Africa Region, held his periodic meeting in Douala, Cameroon, on 1^st and 2^nd October 2025, on the sidelines of the Central Africa Zonal Team Competition for 12&Under.

Present in person at the meeting were: Mr. Germain Ickonga, President of the Congolese Tennis Federation & CAT Vice President, Mr. Juan Mondjeli Ikaka, President of the Equatorial Guinea Tennis Federation, Mr. Armand Didier Mbessa, Vice President of the Cameroonian Tennis Federation, Mr. José Antonio, Head of International Relations at the Equatorial Guinea Tennis Federation. The Secretary General of the Democratic Republic of Congo Tennis Federation and Mr. Thierry Ntwali, ITF Development Officer for Central and Eastern Africa, participated in the meeting via videoconference.

The main theme of this important meeting focused on pooling efforts, presenting ongoing activities, and structuring a future Central Africa Tennis Circuit.

The session was opened by Mr. Armand Didier Mbessa, Vice President of the Cameroonian Tennis Federation (FECATEN), who extended a warm welcome to all participants and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation for the development of tennis in Central Africa.

He was followed by Mr. Germain Ickonga Akindou, CAT Vice President and President of the Central Africa Zone, who reaffirmed the zone's commitment to the development of local structures, training, and the promotion of young talents.

Each delegate then had the opportunity to present the activities carried out over the past year, highlighting:

• The organization of national and regional competitions
• Coaching and officiating training initiatives
• Partnerships with local sports institutions

A key moment of the meeting was the intervention via videoconference by Mr. Thierry NTWALI, ITF Development Officer, who shared ITF’s strategic priorities for Africa, with a particular focus on Central Africa. He outlined upcoming projects and initiatives, infrastructure development, funding opportunities, and eligibility criteria for support programs.

Participants then received a report from the Zone President summarizing the conclusions of the CAT Executive Committee meeting held in Cotonou. Key topics included:

• Calendar harmonization
• Event organization across the various regions of the continent
• Technical staff, umpires, and officials
• Digitalization and administrative compliance requirements for member federations

One of the highlights of the meeting was the discussion on the creation of a Central Africa Tennis Circuit, including the definition of the tournament pathway and target age categories, with the goal of providing athletes in the region with a regular platform for competition and visibility.

In conclusion, the Douala meeting ended in a spirit of solidarity and commitment. Members agreed to reconvene in the near future to assess the implementation of the resolutions adopted. This gathering marks a significant step forward in strengthening regional momentum for the development of tennis.