Arsene Wenger, the head of FIFA’s Development Committee, has commended the performance and technical level displayed in the recent Africa Cup of Nations, held in Ivory Coast, where the host team clinched the title against Nigeria.
Wenger remarked, “I would like to say that there has been a significant improvement in the level of organization and the quality of the stadiums compared to the previous tournament.”
He added, “The levels were so close in the tournament to the extent that predicting the outcome of any match beforehand, or even during the match, was difficult.”
Wenger clarified, “The matches were evenly contested, and the standard was high, but all of this is linked to the quality of organization and the exceptional preparedness of the teams.”
He continued, “There has been a development in the standard, which showcases the depth of talent within the participating countries.
Look at a team like Cape Verde, with a population of not more than half a million, yet they delivered an outstanding performance in the tournament.”
Wenger stated, “Indeed, the development of club competitions has played a role in enhancing the technical level of the Africa Cup of Nations.
There are strong leagues, and we want that.”
He added, “Personally, I have a dream that every association in Africa can compete for the FIFA World Cup title.
It’s not far from reality.”
Wenger elaborated, “The next step after this level is educating young players, something FIFA has contributed to starting from building infrastructure and now developing and educating talents.”
He concluded, “We aim to increase academies there; we are now close to opening an academy in Cameroon, as well as in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, and Zambia.
We aim to develop five new academies as well. By the end of 2026, we will have 75 academies worldwide.
This means football education is progressing, and that’s what we are focusing on at the moment.”
