Djibouti has reached a significant milestone in its football journey with the official opening of the FIFA Talent Academy in Djibouti City yesterday.
Situated within FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS), the academy, inaugurated by FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger, aims to provide every gifted young player with the opportunity to succeed while enhancing the global competitiveness of both men’s and women’s football.
Djibouti becomes the second African nation, following Mauritania, and the 40th worldwide to benefit from this strategic initiative, which aligns with FIFA’s vision of improving national teams and minimising regional disparities.
“Over 40 FIFA Talent Academies are now operational globally, with many more in the pipeline. This academy’s state-of-the-art facilities establish it as a premier centre of excellence in East Africa,” remarked FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In collaboration with FIFA, the Djiboutian Football Federation (FDF) has already rolled out several programmes, including talent identification planned for 2024, selecting 20 boys and 20 girls from six regions, as well as creating regional centres that train over 300 young athletes and mentor 15 coaches with the assistance of a FIFA Talent Coach. The FIFA Talent Academy in Djibouti signifies a substantial advancement in African football and acknowledges the commendable progress made by the FDF in meeting FIFA’s rigorous criteria.
Named the “Douda Football Academy of Excellence,” the facility accommodates nearly 50 youths in a professional environment, fostering the development of elite players through a high-calibre training regimen. By incorporating educational components into its curriculum, the academy cultivates a sustainable ecosystem that supports the personal and social growth of young athletes.
“The ultimate aim is to offer young players premier guidance that encompasses training, education, and development so that they can realise their potential and contribute to the advancement of football in their country,” Wenger explained, adding that FIFA aspires to establish 75 Talent Academies worldwide by 2027.
The ceremony was attended by significant figures, including Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, FIFA Director of Global Football Development Steven Martens, Deputy Director of the Member Associations Division and Regional Director for Africa Gelson Fernandes, and Djibouti FA President Souleiman Hassan Waberi, among others.
In addition, Djibouti has recently joined the ranks of African Member Associations benefiting from the FIFA Arena Project. The cutting-edge pitch at the Palmeraie School in the capital adds Djibouti to the list of countries including Morocco, Niger, Liberia, and Algeria that have recently opened similar facilities.
The FIFA Arena project forms part of a global effort to construct mini-pitches, supporting FIFA President Infantino’s commitment made at the Sustainable Sport Summit in Paris in July 2024.
This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by providing increased play opportunities for children, particularly in underprivileged urban and rural areas.
For Gelson Fernandes, the opening of the Talent Academy and the launch of the mini-pitch mark “a historic moment for Djiboutian and African football. This will create prestigious avenues for Djiboutian children to excel in football and possibly reach the highest levels. These ventures are the culmination of extensive efforts by the FDF with full FIFA support, and we take great pride in that.”
FIFA aims to install a minimum of 1,000 new mini-pitches across the globe by 2031.
