At a meeting of the touring Fifa delegation and CAF officials on Thursday in Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it was decided that African football development was paramount.
Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, said the world football’s governing body has plans to support and develop football in Africa, and specifically the DRC.
He spoke about three specific pillars: refereeing, infrastructure and competitions and Fifa’s plans to develop these hand in hand with CAF and the African football stakeholders.
The first pillar, refereeing, will create a professional and elite group of African referees who will be independent of the administration and political bodies. This follows on from the decision taken in the last executive committee meeting of CAF to implement reforms in the refereeing sector was approved.
The second pillar, infrastructures, will see FIFA mobilize companies and entrepreneurs to gather around $USD 1billion with the objective of building at least one stadium that complies to FIFA’s standards in each African country.
The third pillar, competitions, focuses on developing new and better competitions to generate more revenues so that the African clubs can retain talented players.
“What I want, what Fifa wants and what football needs is to see African football shine,” said Infantino.
“We want to bring it to the highest of heights and show the world the outstanding talent and amazingly gifted players your continent possesses.
“To do this we want to implement a three-pillar approach: refereeing, infrastructures and competitions, in close cooperation with CAF, all of its 54 Member Associations across Africa and other stakeholders.
“I am positive that we will make African football reach the top level where it should be because the quality and potential are here.”
The CAF and Fifa officials also viewed the site of TP Mazembe’s new football stadium which will hold 50,000 fans, followed by a visit to the club’s youth academy.
The group had the opportunity to see several classes in action and paid a surprise visit to young footballers studying science, English and French. They also observed a class dedicated to helping children who have difficulties reading.
In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo
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