Ghana has been selected by FIFA to host one of the first football academies in a major new initiative aimed at improving youth training and competition across Africa and the world.
It is one of four African countries for FIFA’s new football academy project, aimed at building a network of football academies across Africa and other regions, according to Former Arsenal manager and now Fifa Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger,
Wenger revealed these plans after attending the 2023 African Cup of Nations tournament, where Ivory Coast emerged victorious. He stated that establishing standardized youth academies will help improve football education and raise the level of competition in African nations and beyond.
“We are on track to open new academies in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, and Zambia over the next six to twelve months,” he said.
“By 2026, we aim to have 75 total academies worldwide functioning. This will be a major step forward for advancing football education globally.”
He emphasized that the goal is to “increase the standard and competitiveness of football overall. This can only be achieved by improving training for young players and organizing higher-quality competitions.”
The academies represent a key initiative for FIFA under Wenger’s leadership to grow the sport worldwide.