HIBAPRESS
The "FIFA Forward" program has allocated over $1.2 billion to develop football in Africa since 2016, according to officials at the International Federation, today, Thursday, in Sale.
The officials explained during a media meeting hosted by the FIFA regional office in Morocco, located at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamoura (near Sale), that internationally, this program contributed to the development of football through investments exceeding $5 billion.
The "FIFA Forward" program funding in Africa, between 2016 and 2025, enabled the completion of 201 infrastructure projects, including 28 projects that involved minor renovations of stadiums, stands, and seats, with a total cost of $21,644,934.22, and 4 projects concerning natural grass pitches (grass surfaces and irrigation systems), amounting to $757,501, in addition to 52 projects for stadiums covered with artificial turf, with a financial envelope of $42,498,480.70.
These projects also include 102 technical facilities, including headquarters, sports halls, medical facilities, and preparatory work, as well as multi-use and diverse buildings, with a total cost of $103,672,679.23.
It also includes 7 accommodation buildings (accommodation centers, residences, and hotel-style institutions) with an amount of $5,813,279.93, in addition to 8 floodlighting projects (including solar energy modernization projects) with a total financial envelope of $1,487,816.20.
The Regional Director of the FIFA Member Associations Division for Africa, Gilson Fernandes, confirmed in a statement to the Moroccan News Agency that "FIFA" projects have a significant humanitarian impact that goes beyond the financial dimension.
Fernandes said that it is about "development, opportunities for young people, jobs, and girls and boys playing football. It is important for us to provide opportunities for people."
He added that regarding future projects, "we are thinking about a set of initiatives with each federation, whether at the level of stadiums, competitions, and capacity building."
This media meeting, which was organized with the presence of representatives from African and international media outlets, was an opportunity to review the various projects launched by "FIFA" to develop football in Africa, such as "FIFA Arena" and "Football for Schools", and the women's football development program, while highlighting some prominent experiences.
