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FIFA's Arsene Wenger has unveiled new African football academies but Kenya is excluded spotlighting the need for enhanced football development efforts.
FIFA chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger has outlined the international football governing body's ambitious plans to further the growth of the sport across Africa.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding this expansion, Kenya finds itself conspicuously absent from the list of beneficiary countries, sparking discussions on the implications for the nation's football future.
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Wenger, in reflecting on the success of the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations, shared FIFA’s commitment to boosting the standard of football in Africa.
"Over the next six months and one year, it’s to open more academies. We are now close to opening a new one in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, and Zambia, and we want to develop five new academies there, and, at 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,” Wenger disclosed, outlining the geographical scope of FIFA's initiative to establish more academies under the FIFA Talent Development Scheme.
Unfortunately for Kenya, it does not feature on the list of beneficiaries in this round of expansion, a move that may raise questions about the selection criteria and the future of football development in the country.
Wenger's announcement comes in the wake of a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations finale, which saw Ivory Coast clinching victory against Nigeria with a 2-1 scoreline in northern Abidjan.
This victory not only celebrated the host nation's triumph but also spotlighted the significant strides made in football within the continent.
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Reflecting on the tournament, Wenger praised the advancements observed since the last competition.
"I would say that 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 as well, and the commitment was intense," he said.
The former Arsenal manager also highlighted a tactical shift observed in international football, emphasizing the compactness and lack of space allowed by teams, a trend that echoes the defensive strategies seen in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha.
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Wenger's vision for Africa's football future extends beyond the establishment of academies.
He argued for the development of stronger club competitions within the continent as a critical step towards retaining talent and enhancing the sport's quality.
"The potential, it's a goldmine for football. And, to make stronger clubs, to have stronger competitions is vital because that was the success of Europe – they have strong clubs and good education, and we want that: to develop that as well in Africa – everywhere," Wenger asserted.
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Kenya's omission from the list of countries slated for new FIFA academies raises important considerations about the allocation of resources and support in the broader agenda of football development in Africa.
While the decision might be a disappointment for Kenyan football enthusiasts and stakeholders, it also serves as a call to action for the country to bolster its own football infrastructure and programs to attract future investments and projects.
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