Mali football secures major boost through new PMU-Mali partnership

Bamako, 1 September 2026 – The Federation Malienne de Football (FEMAFOOT) and the Societe du Pari Mutuel Urbain du Mali (PMU-Mali) have signed a partnership worth 500 million CFA francs each year.

The agreement is intended to support the development of football across Mali, with funding covering clubs, training centres, technical supervision and refereeing.

It represents a broad commitment to the sport rather than support for a single area of football. The partnership includes the structures responsible for developing players, the organisations competing at club level, the personnel overseeing teams and the officials who manage matches.

The agreement also makes provision for specific support for women’s football and for gender equality. However, the parties have not announced how long the partnership will remain in force.

FEMAFOOT president Mahazou dit Baba Cisse welcomed the agreement and described it as a commitment focused on young people. His comments underlined the importance placed on youth within the partnership and its wider support for football development.

Fassery Doumbia, the Director General of PMU-Mali, said the company’s contribution formed part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

The annual value of the deal is 500 million CFA francs, although no further details were given about how the amount will be distributed between clubs, training centres, technical support, refereeing or the women’s game.

The partnership was concluded in Bamako on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, by the Malian football federation and the country’s Societe du Pari Mutuel Urbain du Mali.

For FEMAFOOT, the agreement brings together several elements of football development under one formal arrangement. Clubs and training centres are included alongside technical supervision and refereeing, while women’s football has been identified for additional support.

PMU-Mali’s involvement was presented by its Director General as part of the company’s responsibility towards society. The federation, through Mahazou dit Baba Cisse, welcomed the focus on youth.

No duration was specified for the commitment, leaving the length of the agreement undisclosed. The announcement confirmed its annual financial value and its areas of focus, but did not provide a timetable for implementation or a breakdown of the funding.

The deal therefore establishes a yearly partnership between FEMAFOOT and PMU-Mali, with the stated aim of strengthening football at multiple levels and giving particular attention to women’s football and gender equality.