Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, has commended the improvements he witnessed at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament held in Ivory Coast.
During the tournament, Wenger, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other top officials, observed several matches and was impressed by the overall organization and the quality of the pitches.
Wenger noted, “There have been remarkable improvements since the last tournament. On the pitch, off the pitch, the organisation, the quality of the pitches, the level of organisation on the pitch – the commitment was intense.”
Looking ahead, Wenger shared FIFA’s plans to enhance football development globally, including the opening of academies in 75 countries by 2026, with one of them set to be established in Ghana.
“Over the next six months to one year, our plan is to open more academies in Africa. We are now close to opening new ones in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana and Zambia. By 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,” Wenger explained.
He emphasized the focus on improving the competitiveness and quality of the game through better football education and high-quality competitions. “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 football education and quality of the competitions.”
