FIFA chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger has emphasised the football governing body’s dedication to continuing investment in the development of the game across the globe.
Wenger, reflecting on the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in an interview, shared FIFA’s commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of football on the continent.
He disclosed FIFA’s plan to establish more academies in Africa, stating that they are on the verge of opening new academies in several countries such as Ghana.
He explained that this initiative is part of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, with Ghana and other nations set to benefit.
Wenger stated, “Over the next six months and one year, it’s to open more academies. We are now close to opening a new one in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, and Zambia, and we want to develop five new academies there, and, at the end of 2026, we’ll have 75 academies all over the world. That means football education has moved forward, and that’s what we’re focusing on at the moment.”
“We want the game to be more competitive and of better quality, and there is only one way to do it: it’s the quality of the education and quality of the competitions.”
Wenger, who attended the AFCON 2023 final, witnessed an exciting encounter between the two finalists, with host nation Ivory Coast emerging as champions with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in northern Abidjan.
🚨Arsène Wenger speaks.
After wacthing last week's AFCON final live, believes outstanding pitch quality, better organisation, better prep of smaller teams contributed to best AFCON ever.
Says Fifa will establish 75 football academies worldwide, including in CIV, Cameroon,… pic.twitter.com/43AlKle7KM
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Reflecting on the tournament, Wenger remarked, “I would say that there have been remarkable improvements since the last tournament on the pitch, off the pitch, the organization, the quality of the pitches, the level of organization on the pitch as well, and the commitment was intense.”
“Overall, it was a tournament of the small margins between the teams.”
He also observed, “I must say, as well, it shows that information travels very quickly, and the phenomenon that we have seen there is that there was little space to play. The compactness of the team was what we had already seen in Doha at the 2022 Fifa World Cup. And, it looks to be a trend in the world, that teams don’t give space away.”
Regarding the development of club competitions within Africa itself, Wenger stated, “100 per cent, you know, because most of the time, these countries lose their players because they cannot afford to keep them. And, we need to build stronger clubs. Let’s not forget, it’s 1.4 billion people in Africa, you know.”
“The potential, it’s a goldmine for football. And, to make stronger clubs, to have stronger competitions is vital, because that was the success of Europe – they have strong clubs and good education and we want that: to develop that as well in Africa – everywhere.”
“It’s starting, it’s getting better but we want to support that development.”