FIFA launches in Mauritania First Talent Academy in Africa

FIFA has officially inaugurated on February 25 its first-ever Talent Academy in Africa, located in Nouakchott, Mauritania, with the aim of unearthing football talents and fostering the development of the sport in the country.

The academy, based at the headquarters of the Mauritania Football Federation (FFRIM), highlights the nation’s growing prominence in global football and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of players.

This facility is part of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS), which seeks to address global disparities in football and ensure that every talented player has the opportunity to be discovered and developed.

The TDS, launched in 2022 under the leadership of FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, aims to support member associations in realizing their full potential by offering a structured pathway for player development.

The academy’s opening in Mauritania marks a significant milestone, with the country becoming the first African member association to receive FIFA Talent Academy certification. This recognition reflects the FFRIM’s dedication to meeting FIFA’s established criteria for talent identification and development. The event was attended by key figures from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), including FIFA’s Chief Football Officer, Jill Ellis, FIFA Director of Global Football Development, Steven Martens, and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the opening as a landmark moment for Mauritania, underscoring the country’s passion for football and its ongoing efforts to improve the sport. He highlighted the academy’s role in offering top-tier training, education, and development for young players, contributing to the overall growth of football in the region.

In addition to the academy, FIFA also laid the foundation stone for the extension of the Cheikha Boidiya Stadium, a project funded through the FIFA Forward Program, which will increase the stadium’s capacity to 16,000 seats to accommodate the rising number of football fans in Mauritania. This project, along with the establishment of the academy, exemplifies FIFA’s long-term commitment to supporting football development across the globe.

On the sidelines of the launch of the FIFA Talent Academy, the President of the Mauritanian Federation held a meeting with Fouzi Lekjaa to explore opportunities for cooperation between their respective federations. The goal is to strengthen football relations between the two countries and contribute to the development of African football through the exchange of expertise and the promotion of new infrastructures.

Lekjaa’s visit to Nouakchott is part of the Moroccan Federation’s strategy, which maintains strong relationships with several continental and international bodies. The FRMF aims to share its experience in youth talent development and improving sports infrastructures, an area in which Morocco has made significant progress in recent years.