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Confederation of African Football | |
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Initials(s) | CAF |
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Formation | February 10, 1957 |
No. of members | 56 |
President | ![]() |
The Confederation of African Football or CAF (French: Confédération Africaine de Football) is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.
CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those competitions.
CAF is the biggest of the six continental confederations of FIFA. Since the expansion of the number of teams at the World Cup finals to 32 in 1998, CAF has been allocated five places, though this was expanded to six for the 2010 tournament in South Africa, to include the hosts.
CAF was established on 8 February 1957 at the Grand Hotel in Khartoum, Sudan, by Egyptian, Ethiopian, South African and Sudanese FAs, following former discussions between the Egyptian, Somali, South African and Sudanese FAs earlier on 7 June 1956 at the Avenida Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal. Its first headquarters was situated in Khartoum for some months until a fire outbreak in the offices of the Sudanese Football Association when the organization moved near Cairo, Egypt. Youssef Mohamad was the first general secretary and Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem the president. Since 2002, the administrative center has been located in 6th of October City, Cairo, Egypt. CAF currently has 54 member associations: 54 are full members, while Zanzibar and Réunion are associate members (see the CAF Members and Zones section below).
The current CAF President is Patrice Motsepe from South Africa, who was elected on 12 March 2021. The 1st Vice-President is Augustin Senghor from Senegal, the 2nd Vice-President is Ahmed Yahya from Mauritania and the 3rd Vice-President is Waberi Souleiman from Djibouti. Current CAF General Secretary is the Swiss-Congolese Véron Mosengo-Omba since 13 March 2021.
History[]
- Main article:History of CAF
2010 Togo Expulsion Controversy[]
CAF has been the subject of widespread media controversy and criticism following a decision to ban Togo from the next two Africa Cup of Nations matches, after Togo briefly withdrew then tried to rejoin the competition following an armed ambush on their bus which wounded and killed several passengers, including players. Togo appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with FIFA president Sepp Blatter stepping in to mediate. The ban was subsequently lifted with immediate effect on 14 May 2010, after a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee.
CAF Members & Zones[]
CAF Members[]

African regional federations:
Code | Association | National teams | Founded | FIFA affiliation | CAF affiliation | Regional affiliation | IOC member |
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Union of North African Football Federations (UNAF) | |||||||
ALG | ![]() |
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1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 2005 | Yes |
EGY | ![]() |
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1921 | 1923 | 1957 | 2005 | Yes |
LBY | ![]() |
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1962 | 1963 | 1965 | 2005 | Yes |
MAR | ![]() |
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1955 | 1960 | 1960 | 2005 | Yes |
TUN | ![]() |
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1956 | 1960 | 1960 | 2005 | Yes |
West African Football Union (WAFU-UFOA) | |||||||
BEN | ![]() |
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1962 | 1962 | 1969 | 1975 | Yes |
BFA | ![]() |
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1960 | 1964 | 1964 | 1975 | Yes |
CPV | ![]() |
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1982 | 1986 | 2000 | 1975 | Yes |
GAM | ![]() |
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1952 | 1966 | 1966 | 1975 | Yes |
GHA | ![]() |
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1957 | 1958 | 1958 | 1975 | Yes |
GUI | ![]() |
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1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1975 | Yes |
GNB | ![]() |
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1974 | 1986 | 1986 | 1975 | Yes |
CIV | ![]() |
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1960 | 1961 | 1960 | 1975 | Yes |
LBR | ![]() |
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1936 | 1962 | 1962 | 1975 | Yes |
MLI | ![]() |
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1960 | 1962 | 1963 | 1975 | Yes |
MTN | ![]() |
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1961 | 1961 | 1964 | 1975 | Yes |
NIG | ![]() |
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1967 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 | Yes |
NGA | ![]() |
1945 | 1960 | 1959 | 1975 | Yes | |
SEN | ![]() |
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1960 | 1962 | 1963 | 1975 | Yes |
SLE | ![]() |
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1967 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 | Yes |
TOG | ![]() |
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1960 | 1962 | 1963 | 1975 | Yes |
Central African Football Federations' Union (UNIFFAC) | |||||||
CMR | ![]() |
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1959 | 1962 | 1963 | 1978 | Yes |
CTA | ![]() |
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1961 | 1963 | 1965 | 1978 | Yes |
CHA | ![]() |
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1962 | 1988 | 1988 | 1978 | Yes |
CGO | ![]() |
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1962 | 1962 | 1966 | 1978 | Yes |
COD | ![]() |
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1919 | 1964 | 1964 | 1978 | Yes |
EQG | ![]() |
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1960 | 1986 | 1986 | 1978 | Yes |
GAB | ![]() |
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1962 | 1963 | 1967 | 1978 | Yes |
STP | ![]() |
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1975 | 1986 | 1976 | 1978 | Yes |
Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) | |||||||
BDI | ![]() |
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1948 | 1972 | 1972 | 1994 | Yes |
DJI | ![]() |
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1979 | 1994 | 1986 | 1995 | Yes |
ERI | ![]() |
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1996 | 1998 | 1998 | 1973 | Yes |
ETH | ![]() |
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1943 | 1953 | 1957 | 1994 | Yes |
KEN | ![]() |
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2011 | 2012 | 2012 | 1973 | Yes |
RWA | ![]() |
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1972 | 1976 | 1976 | 1994 | Yes |
SOM | ![]() |
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1960 | 1960 | 1975 | 1973 | Yes |
SSD | ![]() |
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2011 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | No |
SDN | ![]() |
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1936 | 1948 | 1957 | 1975 | Yes |
TAN | ![]() |
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1930 | 1964 | 1964 | 1973 | Yes |
UGA | ![]() |
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1924 | 1960 | 1960 | 1973 | Yes |
ZAN | ![]() |
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1965 | 1980 | 1973 & 2003 | No | |
Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) | |||||||
ANG | ![]() |
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1979 | 1980 | 1980 | 1997 | Yes |
BOT | ![]() |
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1970 | 1978 | 1976 | 1997 | Yes |
COM | ![]() |
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1979 | 2005 | 2003 | 2007 | Yes |
LES |
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1932 | 1964 | 1964 | 1997 | Yes | |
MAD | ![]() |
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1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 2000 | Yes |
MWI | ![]() |
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1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1997 | Yes |
MRI | ![]() |
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1952 | 1962 | 1963 | 2000 | Yes |
MOZ | ![]() |
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1976 | 1980 | 1978 | 1997 | Yes |
NAM | ![]() |
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1990 | 1992 | 1992 | 1997 | Yes |
SEY | ![]() |
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1979 | 1986 | 1986 | 2000 | Yes |
RSA | ![]() |
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1991 | 1992 | 1992 | 1997 | Yes |
SWZ | ![]() |
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1968 | 1978 | 1976 | 1997 | Yes |
ZAM | ![]() |
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1929 | 1964 | 1964 | 1997 | Yes |
ZIM | ![]() |
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1965 | 1965 | 1980 | 1997 | Yes |
Non-regional Members | |||||||
REU | ![]() |
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1926 | 2004 | No |
- ^ - Excluded from CAF and from 1st African Cup of Nations in 1957 due to Apartheid
- ^ - Member of UNAF from 2005 to 2009 and from 2011 - Withdrew from UNAF on the 19th of November 2009 but return on 2011
- ^ - Non-FIFA member associations holding associate membership of CAF
CAF Regional Zones[]
CAF Zone 1 - North Zone[]
CAF Zone 2 - Zone West A[]
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CAF Zone 3 - Zone West B[]
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CAF Zone 4 - Central Zone[]
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CAF Zone 5 - Central-East Zone[]
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CAF Zone 6 - Southern Zone[]
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World Cup Participation[]
- Legend
- 1st — Champions
- 2nd — Runners-up
- 3rd — Third place
- 4th — Fourth place
- QF — Quarterfinals (1934–1938, 1954–1970, and 1986–present: knockout round of 8)
- R2 — Round 2 (1974–1978, second group stage, top 8; 1982: second group stage, top 12; 1986–present: knockout round of 16)
- R1 — Round 1
- q — Qualified for upcoming tournament
- •• — Qualified but withdrew
- • — Did not qualify
- × — Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned
- — Hosts
- — Not affiliated in FIFA
FIFA World Cup[]
- Main article:African nations at the FIFA World Cup
For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.
Team | 1930![]() (13) |
1934![]() (16) |
1938![]() (15) |
1950![]() (13) |
1954![]() (16) |
1958![]() (16) |
1962![]() (16) |
1966![]() (16) |
1970![]() (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978![]() (16) |
1982![]() (24) |
1986![]() (24) |
1990![]() (24) |
1994![]() (24) |
1998![]() (32) |
2002![]() ![]() (32) |
2006![]() (32) |
2010![]() (32) |
2014![]() (32) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Part of France | × | • | • | • | R1 13th |
R1 22nd |
• | • | • | • | • | R1 28th |
R2 14th |
12 → 4 | ||||||
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× | • | • | • | • | • | R1 23rd |
• | • | 8 → 1 | |||||||||||
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× | × | • | • | • | R1 17th |
• | QF 7th |
R1 22nd |
R1 25th |
R1 20th |
• | R1 31st |
R1 32nd |
12 → 7 | ||||||
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× | × | R1 16th |
× | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 10 → 1 | |||||||
![]() |
× | R1 13th |
× | × | • | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | R1 20th |
• | • | • | • | • | • | 13 → 2 |
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× | • | × | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | R2 13th |
QF 7th |
R1 25th |
12 → 3 | |||||
![]() |
× | × | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | R1 19th |
R1 17th |
R1 21st |
10 → 3 | ||||||
![]() |
• | × | R1 14th |
• | • | • | R2 11th |
• | R1 23rd |
R1 18th |
• | • | • | • | 13 → 4 | ||||||
![]() |
• | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 9th |
R2 12th |
R1 27th |
• | R1 27th |
R2 16th |
13 → 5 | ||||||
![]() |
× | × | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | QF 7th |
• | • | • | 10 → 1 | ||||||
![]() |
× | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | R1 24th |
R1 17th |
• | R1 20th |
• | 6 → 3 | ||||
![]() |
× | × | × | • | • | • | × | × | • | • | • | R1 30th |
• | • | 9 → 1 | ||||||
![]() |
• | × | • | • | R1 9th |
• | • | • | • | R1 26th |
R1 29th |
R1 24th |
• | • | 13 → 4 | ||||||
![]() |
see Congo DR (1974–1994) |
- Firsts
- 1934:
Egypt first African team to qualify for the World Cup
- 1970:
Morocco first African team to draw a match in the World Cup
- 1978:
Tunisia first African team to win a match in the World Cup
- 1986:
Algeria first African team to qualify to consecutive World Cups
- 1986:
Morocco first African team to reach the knockout stage
- 1990:
Cameroon first African team to reach the quarter-final
- 2010:
South Africa first African team to host the World Cup
- 2014:
Algeria &
Nigeria first African teams to reach the knockout stage simultaneously in the World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup[]
The following CAF members have competed in the following FIFA Women's World Cups. Teams are sorted by number of appearances.
Team | 1991![]() (12) |
1995![]() (12) |
1999![]() (16) |
2003![]() (16) |
2007![]() (16) |
2011![]() (16) |
2015![]() (24) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
• | × | • | • | • | • | q | 7 → 1 |
![]() |
× | × | × | • | • | • | q | 7 → 1 |
![]() |
× | × | × | • | • | R 15th |
• | 4 → 1 |
![]() |
• | • | R 13–14 |
R 12th |
R 15th |
• | • | 7 → 3 |
![]() |
R 10th |
R 11th |
QF 7th |
R 15th |
R 13th |
R 9th |
q | 7 → 7 |
Other international tournaments[]
FIFA Confederations Cup[]
- Legend
- 1st – Champions
- 2nd – Runners-up
- 3rd – Third place
- 4th – Fourth place
- GS – Group stage
- Q — Qualified for upcoming tournament
- •• — Qualified but withdrew
- • — Did not qualify
- × — Did not enter / Withdrew from the Africa Cup of Nations or withdrew from the Confederations Cup / Banned
- — Hosts
Team | 1992![]() |
1995![]() |
1997![]() |
1999![]() |
2001![]() ![]() |
2003![]() |
2005![]() |
2009![]() |
2013![]() |
2017![]() |
2021![]() |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
• | • | • | • | GS | 2nd | • | • | • | 2 | ||
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• | • | • | GS | • | • | • | GS | • | 2 | ||
![]() |
× | • | GS | • | • | • | • | 4th | • | 2 | ||
![]() |
• | 4th | × | × | • | • | • | • | GS | 2 | ||
![]() |
4th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 | ||
![]() |
• | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | 1 | ||
Total | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
CAF Best Player of the Century[]
Player Name | Points |
---|---|
![]() |
95 |
![]() |
77 |
![]() |
72 |
![]() |
56 |
![]() |
51 |
![]() |
39 |
![]() |
38 |
![]() |
37 |
![]() |
35 |
![]() |
32 |
|style="width: 33.33%;" align="left" valign="top" |
CAF Best Goalkeeper of the Century[]
Player Name | Points |
---|---|
![]() |
39 |
![]() |
30 |
![]() |
26 |
![]() |
24 |
![]() |
19 |
![]() |
13 |
![]() |
11 |
![]() |
10 |
![]() |
9 |
![]() |
6 |
|style="width: 33.33%;" align="left" valign="top" |
CAF Best Women's Footballer of the Century[]
Player Name | Points |
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![]() |
21 |
![]() |
18 |
![]() |
17 |
![]() |
15 |
![]() |
14 |
![]() |
13 |
![]() |
9 |
![]() |
8 |
![]() |
7 |
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CAF Golden Jubilee Best Players Poll[]
In 2007 CAF published the list of top 30 African players who played in the period from 1957 to 2007, as part of the celebration of CAF's 50th anniversary, ordered according to an online poll.
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CAF's Anthem[]
On September 18, 2007 the CAF launched a competition for all African composers to create its Anthem. The CAF anthem is a musical composition, without lyrics, which and reflect the cultural patrimony and Music of Africa|African music. The duration of the anthem is 74 seconds. The chosen anthem was first published to the site on January 16, 2008. The usage of the anthem and its composer are still unknown.
Competitions[]
International[]
The main competition for men's national teams is the Africa Cup of Nations, started in 1957. In 2009, CAF will be organising another competition for men's national teams, the African Nations Championship composed exclusively of national players playing in the national championship. CAF also runs national competitions at Under-21 and Under-17 levels. For women's national teams, CAF operates the CAF Women's Championship for senior national sides and the African U-20 Cup of Nations for Women at under-20 level, since 2008 there is a African U-17 Cup of Nations for Women for under-17 sides.
Club[]
CAF also runs the two main club competitions in Africa: the CAF Champions League was first held in 1964, and was known as the African Cup of Champions Clubs (or just African Cup) until 1997; and the CAF Confederation Cup, for national cup winners and high-placed league teams, was launched by CAF in 2004 as a successor to the African Cup Winners' Cup (begun in 1975). A third competition, the CAF Cup, started in 1992 and was absorbed into the CAF Confederation Cup in 2004.
The CAF Super Cup, which pits the winners of the Champions League against the winners of the CAF Confederation Cup (previously the winners of the Cup Winners' Cup), came into being in 1992.
Current Champions[]
Competitions | Champion | Title | Runner-Up | Next Edition |
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CAF Champions League | ![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
2015 |
CAF Confederation Cup | ![]() |
1st | ![]() |
2015 |
CAF Super Cup | ![]() |
6th | ![]() |
2015 |
Africa Cup of Nations | ![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
2017 |
CAF U-23 Championship | ![]() |
1st | ![]() |
2015 |
African U-20 Championship | ![]() |
4th | ![]() |
2015 |
African U-17 Championship | ![]() |
1st | ![]() |
2015 |
African Championship of Nations | ![]() |
1st | ![]() |
2016 |
African Women's Championship | ![]() |
9th | ![]() |
2016 |
CAF Beach Soccer Championship | SEN | 3rd | Côte d'Ivoire | 2015 |
CAF competitions[]
Clubs:
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National:
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Inter Continental:
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Regional:
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CAF resolutions[]
Awards:
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Qualifications:
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