Photograph — Busybuddies

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has completed its six-month mentorship program to improve African football. It handed back the management to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at their Executive Committee meeting held on the  2nd of February, 2020 in Rabat, Morocco. 

Fatma Samoura, FIFA secretary-general and other delegates were assigned to revamp the African football body, starting August 1st, 2019 and ending on the 1st of February  2020. Samoura’s contract had a provision for an extension of service, but CAF members voted against it.

During his tenure, Samoura and other delegates, focused mainly on three benchmarks; financial management, good governance, and internal procedures like the efficient and professional organization of soccer competitions and the growth and development of African football.  Staff salaries and work ethic were also improved.

Furthermore, the delegates presented their findings, recommendation and proposals for the African governing body to build upon. FIFA plans to adopt a strategy that covers setting up a professional group of referees for Africa and also improving the facilities and infrastructure in the 54 nations across the continent by setting up an investment of at least $1 billion. 

Fifa’s investment strategy may be a possible solution to the issues of countries declining to host competitions after successfully bidding for the license. In January 2020, Congo opted out as the host of the 2020 African women cup of nations due to financial reasons,  this left CAF in a desperate search for a new country.

FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino advised CAF that the Africa Cup of Nations tournament should be halved in frequency and only be played every four years. Infantino also suggested the yearly under-16 and under-18 tournaments for boys and girls as opposed to the current under-17 events every two years. The boys’ tournaments could grow from 24 teams to 48 if FIFA’s ruling council agrees. Girls’ tournaments could grow to 24 teams from 16.

This is not the first form of guidance offered to help in developing Africa’s sport; in 2019, the International Basketball Federation and the America National Basketball association collaborated to form the Basketball Africa league in Africa.

Other sports federation and councils in Africa, especially in sports that are struggling to get mainstream attention, can also embrace the mentoring and tutelage of other international organizations in building the industry to a commercial level that can create significant opportunities for Africans.

Considering the talents, population interest and even large expanse of land the continent possesses, Africa has the potential of creating a vast sports market from existing and new sports ventures if guided by global communities where the sports are prevalent.

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