Djibouti football reached a major milestone on Thursday with the launch of the FIFA Talent Academy in the capital, Djibouti City. The academy, part of FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS), aims to give young players genuine opportunities to progress while boosting the competitiveness of men’s and women’s football globally.
Djibouti becomes the second African country after Mauritania, and the 42nd worldwide, to benefit from the programme. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the academy as a “unique centre of excellence in East Africa,” adding that more than 40 FIFA Talent Academies are now operational globally.
The Douda Football Academy of Excellence can host nearly 50 young players in a professional setting, integrating schooling with training to support both athletic and personal development. FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger said, “The ultimate goal is to provide young players with top-level guidance, combining training, education and development, so they can reach their full potential and contribute to the growth of football in their country.”
The inauguration was attended by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, FIFA officials, and FDF President Souleiman Hassan Waberi.
In a complementary development, Djibouti also became the fifth African beneficiary of the FIFA Arena Project, with a new mini-pitch at Palmeraie School joining similar facilities in Morocco, Niger, Liberia, and Algeria. FIFA aims to install 1,000 mini-pitches worldwide by 2031, supporting grassroots football and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Regional Director for Africa, hailed the projects as a “historic step for Djiboutian and African football,” offering opportunities for boys and girls to thrive through the sport.
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