FIFA to Open Football Academy in Liberia

The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has announced a plan to establish football academies in Liberia and four other African nations in 2024.

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By: Yawah Y. Jaivey

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FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, disclosed on Saturday via his social media X handle, while reflecting on the recent AFCON and outlined hope for the continued development of football on the Continent of Africa.

“There have been remarkable improvements since the last tournament. On the pitch, off the pitch, the organization, the quality of the pitches, the level of organization on the pitch – the commitment was intense”, Mr. Wenger said.

Arsene Wenger: “Over the next six months to one year, we plan 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”.

“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,” he added.

Continuing, Wenger stated: “It means just to make the ball your friend. Football is played with your feet and that’s not completely natural, it has to be educated. To do it well, you have to start at a very, very young age. Once you have that basis, you have to prepare the players to adapt to every style of play.”

“But they can only do it if they have the right level technically and that’s what we want to do. Our academies for boys and girls start at Under 12. At 17, they go into competitive football but first, you have to prepare them,” he noted.