FIFA state-of-the-art Technical Centre
FIFA, through the FIFA Forward Program, is set to fund the renovation and rehabilitation of a state-of-the-art Technical Centre for the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).
The National Technical Centre, financed by the FIFA Forward Program, will serve as the training and operations hub for all Ivorian national teams.
The new technical centre will feature a medical centre, a 400-square-meter gym, a storage facility, a food court, meeting rooms, a 30-room residential unit, modernised swimming pools, and training facilities.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Thursday, attended by the President of the Ivorian Senate, Kandia Camara; FIF President, Mr. Yacine Idriss Diallo; CAF General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba; and FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Director and Regional Director for Africa, Gelson Fernandes.
The renovation is expected to cost more than USD 4 million, funded exclusively by the FIFA Forward Program, which supports developmental projects in Member Associations.
“We are celebrating a historic moment: the laying of the first brick of the renovated national centre of the Ivorian Football Federation. This symbolic act marks the beginning of an ambitious project that will bring dynamism and guarantee a bright future for football in Côte d’Ivoire,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“Once fully renovated, this centre will not only be a national football hub but will also become a real symbol of hope and opportunity, a springboard for young players, coaches, and football enthusiasts. It will proudly represent Côte d’Ivoire and the whole of Africa in international competitions,” Infantino added.
FIF President Diallo paid tribute to his predecessors for their visionary efforts toward realizing this dream.
“This centre was initially created by my predecessor, Jacques Anouma. At the time, there were ambitions to make it a high-level national centre. Unfortunately, after its construction, it remained somewhat stagnant. When we took office, we committed to turning it into a strong project to fully support young people. It is a centre dedicated to training both girls and boys. For us, it is an essential tool for the development of elite youth football,” Diallo said.
The ceremony was attended by more than 25 presidents of African Football Associations, including Alfred Randriamanampisoa (Madagascar), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Nigeria), Mathurin de Chacus (Benin), and Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas (Congo), among others.
Created in 2016 by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the FIFA Forward Program is the largest and most comprehensive sport development initiative in the world. It seeks to redistribute FIFA revenues equally among the 211 Member Associations.
The program’s core objectives are threefold: increase investment in football development worldwide, achieve greater impact through specific and tailored projects, and ensure transparency and effective management of investments in football development.
The funds are utilized across five main areas: infrastructure, capacity building, competitions, national teams, subventions, and other projects tailored to each federation’s needs, aligning with FIFA’s strategy to make football truly global.
By the end of 2026, FIFA is set to have invested a record-breaking $5 billion in football development projects worldwide.
EE/KA
