The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) will receive funding for the repair and refurbishment of a state-of-the-art Technical Center through FIFA’s FIFA Forward Program.
All Ivorian national teams will primarily train and operate out of the National Technical Centre, which was made possible by funding from the FIFA Forward Program. A medical center, a 400-square-meter gym, a food court, conference spaces, a 30-room apartment building, updated swimming pools, and cutting-edge training equipment are all part of the new facility. Thursday marked the beginning of the project with a groundbreaking ceremony.
President Mr. Yacine Idriss Diallo of the FIF, CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Director and Regional Director for Africa, Gelson Fernandes, and Ivorian Senate President Kandia Camara were among those present.
The FIFA Forward program will provide all of the funding for the anticipated $4 million restoration project. Development initiatives within FIFA Member Associations are supported by this program.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated, “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 bringing dynamism and guaranteeing a future for football in Cote d’Ivoire.”
He added, “Once fully renovated, this centre will not only be a national football centre, it will become a real symbol of hope and opportunity, a springboard for young players, coaches and football enthusiasts, which will fly the flag for Cote d’Ivoire and the whole of Africa during international competitions.”
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FIF President Diallo praised his predecessors for their visionary efforts towards realizing this project, “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 came in, we ensured it was going to be a strong project, to truly offer full capacities for young people. It is a centre dedicated to the training of both girls and boys. For us, it is an essential tool for the development of elite youth football.”
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).
The FIFA Forward program, created in 2016 by FIFA President Infantino, is the world’s largest sports development program. It aims to redistribute FIFA revenues equitably among the 211 Member Associations.
The program’s core goals are to increase investment in global football development, achieve greater impact with tailored projects, and ensure transparent, carefully managed, and effective use of funds.
The funds are primarily used for infrastructure, capacity building, competition, national teams and subventions, and other specific projects, depending on each federation’s needs. The program aligns with FIFA’s strategy to make football truly global.
By the end of 2026, FIFA will have invested a record-breaking $5 billion in football development projects worldwide.
